Augusta needed this. It really needed this.
Fund-raising for the planned Salvation Army Kroc Center finally made it over the top with a pair of very generous donations Wednesday -- $2 million from the Woodruff Foundation and $2 million from an anonymous donor.
Because $30 million was raised locally, the Augusta project qualifies for $67.8 million from the estate of the late Joan Kroc, widow to the founder of the McDonald's fast-food chain.
The 17-acre complex, in the Chafee Park section of Augusta's Harrisburg neighborhood, will house local programs devoted to education, recreation, cultural arts and family support. It will include an aquatics center, a 400-seat theater, classrooms, rehearsal areas, a banquet hall and office space.
The entire effort to bring the Kroc to Augusta came together with the help of so many people. But if its success could be laid at the feet of any one person, it would be bank executive Boone Knox, who chaired the fund-raising committee. Augusta civic philanthropy doesn't always begin and end with Mr. Knox, but the Knox name can be found in the mix invariably -- and the CSRA is better for it.
The Salvation Army project needed money, certainly. But that's not entirely what we meant when we started this editorial by saying Augusta "needed this."
What Augusta needed was affirmation. Something positive. Hard evidence to show that -- if enough caring, responsible citizens band together -- anything is possible for the future of the city.
That's something we all need to remember as we face a very important Augusta Commission runoff election Dec. 1. Voters will get the chance to put aside the politics and personalities that have stifled the city's progress for too long and vote for genuine, positive change.
If Augustans can step up to make the Kroc happen, they can step up to make better government happen.
Comments
It's possible for there to be good government in Augusta, but apparently not under our current charter. With a neutered leader and a committee locked in partisanship, Augusta can only spin like a top. It only takes one dissenter to stop a coordinated effort in any direction. There's not even enough directional support to straighten out the charter. ONLY outside effort has a chance of accomplishment. The government is stymied.
Yes, please change the Augusta ghetto government.
Unfortunately, philanthropy and fundraising have nothing in common with good government. The former can be supported by a few, but the later needs the support of a majority. Our system of government allows an equal voice for all, which means that those that are benefiting from government assistance get a say in the process. We have no incentive for them to vote a pay cut or cut in services.
"Step up to make better government happen" equals elect Matt Aitken to the Commission to break the racial deadlock. The problem is that cities always vote along racial lines and Augusta is a predominantly black city.
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