The British Parliament repealed the Stamp Act on February 22, 1766.
Georgia’s first Governor Archibald Bulloch died mysteriously on February 22, 1777.
[Bulloch] became a leader in the state’s Liberty Party and was elected to the Commons House of Assembly in 1768, to the post of speaker of the Georgia Royal Assembly in 1772 and finally to the Continental Congress in 1775.
On June 20, 1776, Bulloch was elected the first president and commander in chief of Georgia’s temporary government, posts he held until February 5, 1777, when Georgia adopted its state constitution. Just over three weeks later, on February 22, 1777, Georgia faced a British invasion, and the state’s new government granted Bulloch executive power to head off the British forces. A few hours later, Bulloch was dead. The cause of his death remains unknown but unsubstantiated rumors of his poisoning persist.
[H]e is also known as the great-great-grandfather of America’s 26th president, Theodore Roosevelt.
The Cyclorama painting of the Battle of Atlanta went on display on Edgewood Avenue on February 22, 1892.
On February 22, 1976, a series of U.S. Postage stamps commemorating the Bicentennial was issued, featuring the state flags.
Georgia Politics, Campaigns, and Elections
Under the Gold Dome Today – Legislative Day 22 19
I really think that if leadership had pushed a little harder on the schedule, this could have been Legislative Day 22.
TBD Senate Rules Committee upon Adjournment – 450 CAP
8:00 AM HOUSE SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE – 506 CLOB HYBRID
8:00 AM HOUSE Appropriations General Government Subcommittee – 341 CAP HYBRID
8:00 AM Senate Government Oversight – 450 CAP
9:00 AM HOUSE RULES COMMITTEE – 341 CAP
10:00 AM HOUSE FLOOR SESSION (LD 19) – House Chamber
10:00 AM Senate Floor Session LD 19 – Senate Chamber
1:00 PM HOUSE Public Safety & Homeland Security Subcommittee A – 606 CLOB
1:00 PM HOUSE CREATIVE ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT COMMITTEE – 406 CLOB HYBRID
1:00 PM HOUSE Governmental Affairs Redistricting and Elections Special Subcommittee – 341 CAP HYBRID
1:00 PM Senate Insurance and Labor – Mezz 1
1:00 PM Senate Higher Education Committee – 450 CAP
1:30 PM HOUSE Judiciary Scoggins Subcommittee – 132 CAP HYBRID
1:30 PM HOUSE Ways & Means Public Finance & Policy Subcommittee – 403 CAP HYBRID
1:30 PM HOUSE Governmental Affairs State & Local Government Subcommittee Meeting – 341 CAP HYBRID
1:45 PM HOUSE Ways & Means Sales Tax Subcommittee – 403 CAP HYBRID
2:00 PM HOUSE Regulated Industries Low THC Subcommittee – 506 CLOB HYBRID
2:00 PM HOUSE HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE – 606 CLOB HYBRID
2:00 PM Senate Health and Human Services Committee – 450 CAP
2:00 PM Senate Public Safety Committee – canceled – Mezz 1
3:00 PM HOUSE Energy, Utilities, Telecommunications EV Charging subcommittee – 403 CAP HYBRID
3:00 PM HOUSE Appropriations Public Safety Subcommittee – 132 CAP
3:00 PM HOUSE Appropriations Health Subcommittee – 341 CAP HYBRID
3:00 PM Senate Regulated Industries and Utilities – 450 CAP
4:00 PM HOUSE Judiciary Non-Civil Smith Subcommittee – 406 CLOB HYBRID
4:00 PM Senate Judiciary Committee – 307 CLOB
I can’t remember a time when I said we can learn something from Alabama that didn’t involve managing the clock on the football field, but here’s a nifty little piece of legislation from the Yellowhammer State. The Alabama Senate will consider a bill to legalize the sale of Fentanyl test strips, according to WTVM.
An unusual piece of legislation designed to protect illicit drug users is making its way through the Alabama Legislature. The bill would legalize fentanyl drug test strips that let a user know if his or her drugs are laced with fentanyl, a dangerous substance that’s causing an increasing number of deaths.
The punishments for using or selling illicit drugs won’t be changed, but by giving users access to this strip, 81% of them will routinely test their drugs, potentially changing the habits of drugs users to possibly not using anymore at all.
“They don’t realize that fentanyl is in their drug supply,” said [Vanessa Tate-Finney, director of policy and advocacy for AIDS Alabama]. “And you may think that you don’t know anyone that is using illicit drugs, but chances are you probably do.”
Fentanyl test strips aren’t intended to stop people from using illicit drugs, but Farrington says tests could help people decrease their use or avoid potentially deadly situations.
“It’s possible that people are never intending to use an opioid in the first place, and that the substance that they’re using could be adulterated, and they might be able to choose not to do it at all,” said Farrington.
Opponents to this bill say access to the strips could make illicit drug use easier.
“I think people see fentanyl test strips as enabling,” said Farrington. “First of all, no. You’re enabling life, you’re enabling people to live, you’re enabling people to take better care of themselves.”
Farrington also compared the tests to Naloxone, an overdose-stopping drug, available at any pharmacy without a prescription. And says if this is available so should the strips, because for them at the end of the day helping people who suffer from substance abuse is the goal.
I’m open to the possibility that there would be unintended consequences to this legislation, but it’s an idea worthy of debate.
Port Wentworth Mayor Pro-Tem Thomas Barbee sought to minimize the perception that the municipality is a hostile workplace by attacking city employees who resigned. From WTOC:
City Hall isn’t just closed Monday because it’s President’s Day. It’s been closed since February 11 because of all the resignations. Mayor Pro-Tem Thomas Barbee took to the podium and called what has happened over the last few weeks an “attack” on the city.
“What you have witnessed over the past few weeks is an orchestrated attack on the city and its residents,” said Barbee.
In less than two weeks Ed Booth resigned from his position as the city manager, six administrative staff members resigned and the newly appointed interim city manager and current Port Wentworth Police Chief, Matt Libby resigned just three days after he was appointed.
“City Hall shuttered. City Council locked out. Access to city services denied from residents.”
Booth says those who’ve resigned say they were subjected to a hostile work environment created by the new majority of the city council elected in November. Barbee claims this is just not the case.
“Asking questions, changing plans and procedures, and demanding competent management are not acts of a hostile employer. These are acts of a mindful duly elected city council doing their sworn duty.”
Barbee says the new council has been lied to and misled by those who have also taken an oath to the city. He also says since Booth’s resignation, Mayor Gary Norton has “failed to communicate properly with the majority of council.”
Okay, Karen dude.
“The city council has been lied to, misled and stymied by the very fiduciary officers that have sworn an oath to the city,” said Barbee. “Since the secret resignation of the outgoing city manager, the mayor has failed to communicate properly with the majority of council,”
Barbee refused to answer any questions after talking to the media, citing an ongoing investigation, but he indicated that the once majority white council — now being majority Black — is at the root of the problem.
“We are going to find professional staff that will provide the exceptional services to our residents, and they deserve that,” Barbee said. “We will improve existing services and provide new enhanced services as we modernize our workforce and our systems.”
The Georgia Department of Community Affairs retained federal COVID-relief funding for rental assistance, according to the Georgia Recorder via the Henry Herald.
The rental assistance program is administered statewide by the Department of Community Affairs, and it offers federal funds covering up to 18 months in rent and utility bills. The department has so far struggled to distribute its first allotment of federal funding despite what experts and advocates call a clear housing need.
Last November, the Treasury Department required DCA to file a Program Improvement Plan to avoid losing $120 million to higher performing jurisdictions. The Treasury approved Georgia’s plan in mid-December, according to Kaley Volkmann, a contract spokeswoman for DCA.
“DCA did not lose any federal funding and is currently operating the GRA program under the approved PIP,” Volkmann said.
In January, the U.S. Treasury allowed DCA to voluntarily reallocate portions of its funding, according to a press release. Volkmann said the state has reallocated $228 million to other Georgia rental assistance programs, adding “this is subject to the Treasury’s approval and disbursement.”
Georgia’s state program still ranks 48th out of 50, ahead of only Wyoming and South Dakota, according to the National Low Income Housing Coalition. Seven states have already distributed 100% of the first round of pandemic-related federal rental aid.
Governor Brian Kemp signed House Bill 383, prohibiting state agencies from awarding contracts to companies that do not affirm they are not and will not boycott Israel, according to the Capitol Beat News Service via the Henry Herald.
The Georgia House and Senate overwhelmingly passed different versions of House Bill 383 last year. It didn’t receive final passage until early in this year’s session when the House agreed to the Senate version.
Taking a stand in support of Israel is particularly important in the wake of growing antisemitism in the U.S. and across the Western world in recent years in the form of physical and verbal attacks, Kemp said during a brief bill-signing ceremony at the state Capitol.
“This legislation pushes back against that shameful and inexcusable prejudice,” he said. “It reasserts that hatred has no place in Georgia.”
Libertarian Ryan Graham is running for Lieutenant Governor on a platform that includes legalizing drugs, according to the Capitol Beat News Service via the Albany Herald.
In keeping with the long-standing Libertarian position on drugs, Graham said Georgia should decriminalize drug possession and legalize marijuana.
GOP candidates include Georgia Senate President Pro Tempore Butch Miller of Gainesville, state Sen. Burt Jones of Jackson and Savannah activist Jeanne Seaver.
Democrats running for lieutenant governor include Georgia Reps. Renitta Shannon of Decatur, Erick Allen of Smyrna, and Derrick Jackson of Tyrone; Dr. Jason Hayes of Alpharetta, and attorney Charlie Bailey of Atlanta.
Party on, dude!
The Chattahoochee County public school system recorded zero active COVID cases for the first time since early December 2021, according to the Ledger-Enquirer.
Doctors Hospital of Augusta had their first day without a COVID admission since late December 2021, according to the Augusta Chronicle.
Clarke County schools are going mask-optional beginning February 28th, according to the Athens Banner Herald.
An Augusta Commission committee will consider a measure to repeal the city’s mask mandate, according to WJBF.
“Numbers are down with COVID, I see this more now, it’s becoming kind of a control situation,” said Commissioner Catherine Smith McKnight.
Commissioner McKnight placing on the agenda for Tuesday’s committee meeting an official call to end the mandate.
“You have hospitals here locally for the first time since the pandemic started didn’t have any new cases I think it’s worth the conversation a lot of people are tired of wearing these masks,” says Commissioner Brandon Garrett.
At A.U. Heath COVID cases are down dramatically since the beginning of the month. but still slightly higher than the first of the year.
The first stop for ending the mask mandate will be the commission’s administrative services committee, Commissioner Clarke, McKnight and Garrett, are not members of that committee.
Dougherty County Commissioners are considering measures to eliminate junkyards, according to WALB.
District 6 County Commissioner Anthony Jones along with many other commissioners said the majority of their calls are about yards filled with cars.
“The majority of my calls are about code enforcement and there’s always one word that hinders everything and that word is ordinance. Everybody else around them is trying to have a nice, manicured yard and then you have someone with 50 cars in the yard. We need to look back into these ordinances and look at the one where we are having most complaints,” said Jones.
Working to clean up industrial businesses, the county will be sending out notices to owners who are violating the code. The director of Planning and Development Services Paul Forgey said this is a warning before code enforcement gets involved.
The Blakely Police Department was down to 50% staffing strength at one point during the pandemic, according to WALB.
“There was at one point, earlier this year actually, I was actually down to 50%,” says Chief Will Caudill, Blakely Police Department.
“Instead of just having a certain number of officers on day shift, and certain number on night shift, you may have to use a swing shift, as we call it, when you bring in an officer to overlap a little on day and night,” says Chief Caudill.
Often times, Chief Caudill and his detectives gave up family time to return to work to give patrol officers a break.
“If you have a serious increase in violent crimes or serious incidents, you need to have that investigative component. when your whole department is working on patrol, it’s hard to do an effective follow up,” says Chief Caudill
The department is also battling a supply shortage for police cars.
“We want the public to come forward and help us,” says Chief Caudill. “There’s a lot more eyes and ears out there in the public than police officers. we can’t be everywhere at all times, but as residents of a particular neighborhood, they are.”
Derrell “Dee” Anglyn was appointed and sworn in as District 3 Commissioner for Henry County, according to the Henry Herald.
Anglyn was selected to fill the Board of Commissioners seat left vacant by Greg Cannon following his resignation on Feb. 1.
The selection was made by Board Chair Carlotta Harrell on Feb. 15 from a list of names supplied by the county’s Republican Party.
By law, the board is required to vote on an interim commissioner to fill a vacant seat within 14 days. If the board fails to do so, as they did on Feb. 15, the board chair must choose from the list of nominees.
Anglyn will serve through Dec. 31, 2022.
Congratulations and condolences, Commissioner.
Sometimes it takes two cities to employ a full-time solicitor. From the AJC:
The cities of Alpharetta and Milton are looking for an attorney to represent the combined roughly 105,000 residents in court.
A city solicitor prosecutes cases involving city code and traffic violations — these are the small, everyday local cases like tree cutting across property lines or noise violations.
The cities will share the cost of the position, according to a Facebook post from Milton government. Alpharetta’s court sessions are held in Milton’s courtroom, which is inside the city’s police building.
Former Hall County Commissioner Scott Gibbs joined the Republican primary field for Senate District 49, according to AccessWDUN.
Gibbs, a Republican, is the second person who has announced plans to run for the seat, following Hall County Commissioner Shelly Echols’ announcement in May 2021. Gainesville Republican Butch Miller has held the seat since 2010, but he instead is running for Lieutenant Governor of Georgia in the 2022 election.
At the time of writing, Gibbs served on the Georgia Department of Community Affairs Board and was appointed to that role by both Governor Nathan Deal and Governor Brian Kemp.
“I’m more than just a conservative with strong Christian, family, and community values,” Gibbs said in a prepared statement. “I have a passion to preserve our quality of life here in Hall County while planning for our future growth.”
Gwinnett County Board of Education member Steve Knudsen faces a challenge from a parent who opposes mask mandates, according to the Gwinnett Daily Post.
Michael Rudnick filed paperwork with the Georgia Campaign Finance Commission last month to inform the body of his intention to seek the Gwinnett County school board District 2 seat. A campaign website went online this month.
“As your Board of Education representative, I will make sure your voice is heard,” Rudnick said in a video on his campaign website. “I will listen and I will act when my constituents have a concern …”
“I will be your voice. I will stand up to other board members and fight for what is right … Lastly, I will fight for the special needs community.”
Knudsen confirmed to the Daily Post last week that he does plan to seek re-election. Whether he will face Rudnick in a Republican primary or a nonpartisan election, however, is up to Gov. Brian Kemp, who has a bill to move the Gwinnett school board to nonpartisan elections on his desk.
Rudnick has been a frequent speaker at Gwinnett school board meetings, often speaking about services for special needs students, face mask mandates and continuing in-person instruction during the COVID-19 pandemic.
While other members of the same parents group that Rudnick has been involved in have been vocal about Critical Race Theory, he has mostly steered clear of the issue when he has addressed the board.
If Kemp signs the bill to move the school board to nonpartisan elections into law, then this year’s District 2 and District 4 elections will be decided in May rather than November.
Rome attorney Steven Bennett will seek an open seat on the Floyd County Juvenile Court, according to the Rome News Tribune.
[Floyd County Juvenile Court Judge Gregory Price] announced he would not be running for the post this past week after 9 years on the bench. That leaves a small time slot for potential candidates to decide. Qualifying in that election will begin in two weeks.
Three judge posts — two in the Superior Court held by Judge Kay Ann Wetherington and Judge William “Billy” Sparks, alongside the Juvenile Court post — will be decided in a nonpartisan election during the May primaries. The winners will take the seats beginning in January 2023.
Comments ( 0 )