One of our local tv stations did a segment, just tonight, on Augusta's First Friday's. The segment highlighted store/shop owner's who claim a decrease in sales versus bar and restaurant owner's who claim a 25% increase on First Friday's. It was stated in the segment that many store owners believe the climate has changed and First Friday's in Augusta have succumbed more to a party/bar scene. Crime was sighted (at the end of the segment) as a reason for people not to venture into the downtown area...especially later in the evening.

I can't speak for anyone else, but I can tell you my husband and I used to really enjoy First Friday's. We haven't been in several years and I would NEVER go now and take our small son. You won't ever convince me that Augusta is a safe place. IMO-You can't have as much poverty as we do and not have violent crime to go along with it. People are desperate and that should scare us all into choosing carefully where we go and what we do to keep our families safe.

Bored, you beat me to it.

When I first moved here EVERYBODY lived first Friday...now you can't even go to that.. At first it was fighting now shooting?? Honestly?? It doesn't make you a thug because you can shoot.. It just makes you a dummy with a dang gun. Neither does it make you hard...people need to stop using guns thinking it's going to solve problems... It's not it's gonna bring more of them to you... People are dying because of this type of stuff...people really need to grow up..in my eyes the people doing all this shooting are punks...for real

I am not certain it is so much a poverty problem, bored. Poverty may be associated with criminal behavior, but we are not dealing with people shooting each other over something to eat. I should say, YET.

I don't disagree with you ByGeorge, but the crossing of the river goes both ways. A lot of crimes perpetrated on Aiken County residents, especially in Beech Island and N. Augusta are compliments of RC residents.

And just for countyman, not just RC. GA residents.

I don't doubt that KSL. I'm just pointing out that First Friday has become Thug Fest. It's horrible. I'm a first responder, so I occassionally have to be in the midst of it. I've often wondered how much Augusta was going to tolerate and if it was going to take a mass shooting to put a stop to the nonsense. Well now that mass shooting is a reality. Thank goodness nobody got killed. They could put a couple hundred cops down there and it still wouldn't be enough. The city just needs to put a halt to First Friday.

I had just drove by this block about 8:30 thinking what a nice night to be out. Why are people getting in these kinds of conflicts when they should be having a good time. Violence is getting out of hand. Wow I agree with KSL, I must go play the lottery. laugh

The only way to keep the thugs out of events is to charge cover charge! And a high one too! The merchants could reemburse the patrons if they spend money at the event and then merchant could be reimbursed by party collected the cover charge, minus a small fee. No one is out of pocket and it would keep the free loaders away! Anything free attracts a certain element, free food, or any giveaway! Like the Masters, no badge not entry, and if caught on the course, escorted off! My son was there last night, but if I can prevent it, it's his last visit until there is a change. My family made regular visits downtown until a couple of years ago, stopped for this very reason!

You never know, maybe somebody such as myself with a concealed permit was approached by a group of "thugs" and gave them the trouble they were asking for...but then again, I wouldn't be hanging around in downtown Augusta after dark for anything. I don't even feel safe going to the ballet for the Nutcracker.

I've always had a love/hate relationship with this town. There's not enough to do here and there's no diversity. This city should be a major player in the way of entertainment and culture. I don't think high cover charges would change a thing. The crimes are happening in the streets. I would hate to have them do away with it. Maybe, 1st Sat or 2nd Sat would be best-something in the afternoon. Making it more family friendly would be better. You really can't hang out anywhere anymore safely. It's sad that having an argument and disagreement can lead to death or harm. We use to be able to live to argue or reconcile another day but not now. Your lights will be out permanently in this town.

I disagree with abolishment. I see this as a golden opportunity to put a boot on the necks of the "thug" element by increasing the police presence with plainclothes officers, and arresting some of these punks. With a lot of foot cops filtering through the crowd, the roaches will find another place to play. Take our event back! Don't let the bad guys ruin everything.

Unfortunately this was a totally predictable event.
The Arts Council should have shut down First Friday years ago.
Bring on First Saturday (noon-time)!

I absolutely agree with itsanother. You can't win by retreating. They win. And the roaches don't need to scatter elsewhere. They need to be done away with. They need to lose their power.

Proponents of growth in Augusts need to acknowledge they have problems that need fixing. Ihave no desire to go back to the Atlanta metro, though technically I didn't grow up in the metro. I haved lived in the Augusta metro for decades. But for more than a decade I have ceased going to the heart except for the rare occasion.

They don't mean to be evil.

But when you have a hollow cold cavernous void for a soul , and

are consumed with a desperate struggle to fill the

hollow soul with money , drugs , drink , pride of life , lust of the flesh

and fail miserably to fill the void , your own life becomes increasing

meaningless and worthless.

Thus killing another human being becomes an increasingly trivial

matter as well.

Human life becomes increasingly meaningless , and of less value with

age rather than increasingly precious.

Even your own life.

So as the emptiness of life looms larger and larger with each passing

day, killing yourself becomes more of an option as well.

This is why shootings and suicides among specific ages are charting

upward side by side with equal vigor.

The new generation of the bloody tooth & claw is coming on strong.

What a dark future awaits.