Gleaning Facebook: Central Park Centerfold

 It will come as no surprise to my friends that I love the centerfold of the new Chamber of Commerce magazine Bridges. It is a beautiful panoramic view of Rome from an unusual perspective - probably a camera on a drone over the flag atop Jackson Hill. Fully half of the photograph is a section of what I like to call Rome's "Central Park". I wish we'd had this photo during our battle to save "Central Park" five years ago and before. How thankful I am that that battle was eventually won, and ALL that greenspace you see here in the very heart of our city is now preserved for our posterity in this river city.

What I call Rome's Central Park is 
• the Riverwalk and RidgeFerry Park along the Oostanaula River, 
• the Jackson Hill and Blossom Hill public property along Dogwood Drive, Vaughn Road, and Reservoir Street.
• and the 80 acres of Burwell Creek, Burwell Forest, and the City Duck Pond.

Together those properties give Rome an amazing greenspace full of wildlife and botanical beauty just blocks from Broad Street and along the Turner McCall and Riverside Parkway thoroughfares.

We the People of Rome are the stewards of this property during our lifetimes and through our city commissioners must direct its careful development for educational, recreational, and environmental use by ourselves and those who come after us. I hope I live to see well-designed bike and pedestrian boardwalks, trails, and observation stations/platforms connecting Jackson Hill to Ridge Ferry through the Burwell area. 

Howard Smith

I call it Terrell Territory

Michael J. Burton

Oh me of little faith. Didn’t think this was possible since big money wanted to develop this. Ya da man well worth your fight

Joe Cook

Terrell Shaw, thank you for leading this effort. Last weekend, I cycled the PATH Foundation's South River and Arabia Mountain trails which included several boardwalks over wetlands. WoW! What great trails those are! We need to get serious about developing similar trails through the Burwell Creek wetlands. Here's some video of one of the boardwalks!

Ann Gore

Thank you Terrell and Sheila for working so hard to save this beautiful green space!! Love Rome!!

Terrell Shaw

it took a crowd of folks — thanks to the scores of folks who stepped up on short notice to make a big difference.

Gleaning Facebook: End Private Prisons!

I know this is just a minor part of my neighbor Russell's excellent post, but it is a long time firm belief of mine so just a note of emphasis: There should be NO PRIVATE PRISONS EVER!!!! Making it PROFITABLE to lock someone up in a republic is obscene. There are politicians who get campaign donations from prison companies--- [https://www.opensecrets.org/industries/recips.php...] --- VOMIT!!!! The stupidity and immorality of Capital-R-Republican fondness for privatizing basic governmental functions is plain.

From a Facebook post by Russell Cook:

Alright y’all. I haven’t been on social media much lately, and certainly haven’t thought that my voice was the one thing missing from a national conversation on race and police violence. However, judging from what’s coming out of the keyboards of some folks I see on here, there might be a use in hearing it from as many people as possible, as often as possible. After all of the upheaval of the past couple of weeks, a police officer in Atlanta saw fit, in the moment, to shoot a man twice in the back as he ran away. Shooting someone in the back is murder, no matter how you try to justify it. They knew who he was. They had his car. They had run his ID and talked to him for half an hour. Whatever happened, he was no mortal danger to the officer or to anyone else, even if he did grab and discharge a non-lethal taser in his struggle to get away.

But police work is dangerous, right? Every car pulled over is a potential cop killer, right? But how many actually are? It’s easy to find out. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, police work is in the top 20 or so for dangerous jobs in the U.S., at 108 fatalities last year. That’s 6 or 7 fatalities per 100,000 officers. But that’s a fraction of the fatalities of another public servant: Sanitation Workers have 35 or so fatalities per 100,000. Read that again. You are three or four times as likely to be killed in the line of duty as a Garbageman than as a Cop. Farmers, Truck Drivers, even Landscapers are much more likely to die in the line of duty than the Police. And roughly half of those on-the-job police deaths come from traffic accidents, not from a bad guy with a gun.

There is a significant danger associated with police work though: Police violence, that is, violence by the police, is a leading cause of death of young American men, and black men are roughly twice as likely as white men to be killed by the police. Over the course of a lifetime, roughly 1 in 1000 black men can expect to be killed by law enforcement. This data comes from the National Academy of Sciences. 1 in 1000 is 100 in 100,000, which is a higher rate of death than the most dangerous occupations, Logging and Commercial Fishing. So, if being a black man in the United States were a chosen occupation, it would be among the most dangerous occupations one could choose, with this danger solely based on your chance of being killed by law enforcement. Think about that. When a policeman shoots to kill, (and they are not trained to shoot in any other way) is that fear reasonable and justified? Oftentimes not, based on the numbers. If you are a black man, do you have reason to fear for your life when the police show up, no matter your situation? Absolutely.

None of this is opinion. This is all fact, easily found in govt. data. So, here's the opinion: does the police force as we know it really protect and serve? If so, what are they protecting? Who are they serving? In my very limited, and mostly benign experience with law enforcement, there seems to be too much emphasis on enforcement, with not enough emphasis on the actual law. The assumption seems to be that if the officer is wrong, it’ll come out in court…months later, after thousands spent on legal fees, assuming you can afford it, and many cannot. That may have something to do with the fact that we have only 5% of the world’s population, but 20% of the world’s prison population. California is doing the right thing by ending for-profit prisons. We need comprehensive police reform to go with it.

There's another man

Sheila admitted to me this morning that she has developed an affection for another man. 

This is upsetting. 

The cad’s name is Mark Cochran, our fellow member of Trinity United Methodist Church and newly minted Rome City Commissioner. Yesterday Sheila attended a special community meeting at the City Auditorium to discuss the fate of the Bedford Forrest monument that originally sat in the middle of Broad Street and now resides in the city cemetery at Myrtle Hill. Mark Cochran was a part of the panel of commissioners who spoke.

So perhaps you think it’s Cochran’s boyish good looks, his work to refurbish buildings on Broad, his complete rebuilding of a gorgeous old home on Clocktower Hill, his determination to dispel rumors and report the truth during the reactions in our city to the racist murders of 2020, or his leadership in the meeting Thursday. 

Nope. 

She does admire those things but the little hearts throbbing in her eyes are spurred by something else.

You see, Sheila has noticed that many folks under the age of forty have decided to just delete random hard consonants in the middles of words, The glaring example is the word “important”. Some millennials and other young folk in our culture have decided, inexplicably, to pronounce it without the first “t”: “impor-ent”. This has become a major pet peeve for Sheila.

BUT Mark enunciates that word correctly and has thus won my wife's heart.

As we approach our 49th anniversary of wedded bliss Sheila has fallen for another man.

I am in despair.

Gleaning Facebook: Feral Kitties

These beautiful kitties want to adopt responsible people. They are not picky; two of their siblings have adopted John Paul Schulz & Dekie Hicks!

Joey Jones
Where are these located

Monica Sheppard
Oh how I wish!!! But I’ve been adopted by too many precious faces already.

Nena Dake
I think they have adopted you!

Terrell Shaw
AAAAAIIIIIIIIIIiiiiiiiiiiiii!!!!!!!!!

Terrell Shaw
Nena, we foisted one off on... I mean we are down to two: the orange tabby and the shy dark gray and white one.

Nena Dake
Here they are with their siblings.
All soft and adorable and very smart. Dekie has one of her kitties already reading on the computer

Ellice Curry-Tucker
All the ones who have adopted me are currently fighting....so....I’m afraid I’ll just have to admire their photos. 4 is too many! 5 would be disaster it’s!! Lol

Katie S. Kimbrough
They’re cute!

John Paul Schulz
It looks like that one is kin to our Trouble. He is a wonderful young and loving kitty.

Terrell Shaw
This one adopted Kelly and Joey for his/her humans today. Two more..

Terrell Shaw

Terrell Shaw

Susan Barnes Babb
We have two already, but these kitties are tempting!

Rebecca Odom
Susan Barnes Babb do it!

Susan Barnes Babb
Rebecca Odom I can bring it to SC!

Debbie Reece Grigsby
If you run out if kittens, my great niece Olivia found this sweet kitten on Veteran’s Hwy today. She looking for a home for this tiny baby.

Dekie Hicks
I hope they all adopt good hoomans! Trouble and Mr. Bolt are growing fast, and are quite the entertainment. Their new cat condo arrives tomorrow.

Carl Sharpe-Ehui
Any females left?

Terrell Shaw
I don't know the sex of either of the two kittens that remain. Sorry.

Jessie Reed
My son, Iam, has been begging for one. Let me talk to Rob... maybe if I show him these pictures maybe he’ll cave. 

Debbie Reece Grigsby
Looks like my great niece found the kitten a home! Yeah! 

Jane Nelson Risdon
Sigh. Wish I could have ome.

Dee Brenner Belk
Are any of these still available

Gleaning Facebook: We Matter

Headed there now... come join us!

We Matter: A Peaceful Protest

"We Matter: A Peaceful Protest" this afternoon in #RomeGeorgia. Great job, Rome! Way to show up and stand up!! Peaceful and powerful..

Matter: A Peaceful Protest" in #RomeGeorgia. Great job, Rome! Way to show up and stand up!! Peaceful and powerful..

Wonderful, diverse turnout this afternoon at "We Matter: A Peaceful Protest" in #RomeGeorgia. Great job, Rome! Peaceful and powerful...

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Gleaning Facebook: Saying Their Names

 From Bonny Askew's Facebook--

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From my Facebook:

An evening to speak these names and others and to rededicate ourselves in their memory to our never fully realized but noble founding goals... liberty and justice for all.

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From Ellen Thompson's Facebook:

This evening in Rome... #SayTheirNames #SpeakTheirNames #voicesthatmatter #signsofthetimesekt #icantbreathe2020 #WeAreRome

From my Facebook: Thanks, Ellen K. Thompson for snapping a picture. Sheila and I were so inspired by the many friends, acquaintances, and newly met friends, who -- with physical distancing -- helped us remember the victims of racism and also by the wonderful support from the many folks who drove by along Rome's busiest street shouting encouragement or tooting their horns or waving or giving thumbs-up. One even drove away and came back with bottled water for all of us.

Pictures from Joan Ledbetter's Facebook (with my comments):

I am so in love with the woman in the dark glasses. Sheila does not like the spotlight (I know what you are thinking; how in the world did she produce our two diva-daughters?!) She hates controversy. But she also has principles and the strength of steel. Holding a controversial sign on Turner McCall Boulevard goes against her nature, but so does the evil of racism. She will not be silent in the face of evil.

Melanie Spivey and Ellen K. Thompson

I was so pleased to see my sister Debi and her husband here today.

Joan Ledbetter

Gleaning Facebook: An Excursion to Summerhill

\Sheila and I made our first venture out of town since the first week of March.

Now before I discuss the hedonistic abandon of today, I must emphasize that Weight Watchers just sent me a special charm to celebrate the fact that I had reached my original weight loss goal.

Our trip was to see -- using face masks and/or social distancing -- our baby girl, Lillian.

As soon as we reached her apartment we headed to Big Softie for unbelievably scrumptious softserve ice-cream. I splurged on a huge waffle cone filled with swirled strawberry and green tea sherbet coated with a layer of delectable chocolate. Oh, my! We took our treats back to Lillian's deck to enjoy them with some good conversation.

On the street near Big Softie.

How many Weight Watchers points are in this picture?

We ate on the little back deck of the apartment that Lil shares with two other women. The deck is shaered with one other of the four apartments in the little structure in Summerhill.

Having devoured our dessert first, we crossed the street again to Woods Chapel BBQ to further indulge our culinary passions with huge pulled pork sandwiches on fresh toasted and buttered buns served with thick jalapeno potato chips... AND since we were her last customers of the day the manager threw in two generous slces of bourbon chocolate pecan pie and a large cup of "Frosé" for us to share. Oh, my!

I highly recommend Wood's Chapel BBQ. Delicious. 

Back to the deck for supper. 

We took a 30 minute walk in the beautiful Summerhill and Grant Park neighborhoods to assauge our consciences before we said our goodbyes and got on the road back to Rome just before the 9 p.m. curfew.

Our walk up Georgia Avenue from Summerhill into the adjacent neighborhood of Grant Park illustrated the gentrification of this area that Evan Ross talks about in his comment to this post. Though we enjoy the beauty of these beautifully redecorated and updated homes, -- in easy walking distance of the former Turner Field --we must also mourn the loss of the neighborhoods that predated these. Most of the folks who once lived in this area likely could not afford these houses now.
In major city after major city ordinary workers have been priced out of homes there. We must find a way to restore affordable housing for those who work in cities. One step in the right direction would be to find ways to reduce and reverse the extreme redistribution of wealth toward the already wealthy. In this wealthy republic very full time worker should have a comfortable income. 

I may have consumed more Weight Watchers points today than on any other day (excluding Fourth of July) since I joined WW.

Gleaning Facebook: Stop. Regroup. Organize. Strategize. Mobilize.

Yes. After witnessing the meltdown of the little man in the White House tonight we must Stop. Regroup. Organize. Strategize. Mobilize.

This wonderful former student of mine is brilliant, and successful, and a loving husband and father, and has always been just a really nice guy. It breaks my heart that he has had to face stupid blatant racism as well as the every day ignorance of folks like me enjoying our casual white privilege mostly blind to the daily challenges of our friends of color.

Please try to read, and think about these words dispassionately and with a determination to really see through his eyes for a bit.

Black lives matter.

We MUST at least obliterate the current racism at the polls in November. So, yes, vote, donate, work for candidates who will seek reconciliation and peace and brotherhood.

From Marshall Jones' Facebook:

My heart hurts due to the damage that this administration is causing. It will be awhile before our youth recover and hearts & minds are changed.

I can't count how many times I have been stopped for Driving While Black. I have taken clients to dinner and have been stopped because I was in the wrong area, the car was too nice, we want to make sure you (the client) is ok; or cause it was Tuesday. I have missed opportunities, been passed over and even ignored. over the years. I have had to fight, I have been hit by drivers in their car as a pedestrian, handcuffed, spit on and shot at by racist, All because of my skin color. I refuse to let all of this negativity change my positive and hopeful view on what could be for us.

Most have tried to take the high road and keep our heads up. But AmeriKKKa, doesn't seem to want to listen. We tried peaceful marches, prayer and kneeling. Nothing has changed! What will it take? #LISTEN #DOSOMETHING

NOTE: Sllavery was not just physical; it was mental, emotional and financial. What we are witnessing now is nothing but this same mentality. Only it isn't just directed toward african americans solely. If people do not wake up amidst this they will awaken to find many freedoms GONE! Laws are being passed, appointees placed into top positions while we fight EACH other!! STOP, REGROUP, ORGANIZE, STRATEGIZE and MOBILIZE!! We owe it to our ancestors to not allow this to become more than a moment in our History. Do NOT allow this to become our FUTURE!

VOTE< VOTE < VOTE!

You all are seeing firsthand what one mistake has cost us!

PS. Don't forget about our Latino/Latina family that is locked up in cages, right now too! They should be freed as well! Tear down that F'n Wall before its finished!