The Fourth Day of Christmas

On the fourth day of Christmas Shirley Franklin sent to me four vats of kool aid, three bogus letters, two worn out shoes and one kick in the seat of my pants.

James Wilson Beaty, PhD
Jeremiah 22.16

The Third Day of Christmas

On the third day of Christmas, Greg Pridgeon sent to me three bogus letters, two worn out shoes and one kick in the seat of my pants.

James Wilson Beaty, PhD
Jeremiah 22.16

"… in case the City wants to wade in."

Richard “We’re in!” Orr in his September 12, 2008, e-mail to Catherine Woodling at City Hall wrote, “My writing style is geared toward AJ, so feel free to change, use or toss in case the City wants to wade in.” Mr. Orr concluded this e-mail using his word “crap” in reference to an op-ed piece published that morning in the AJC submitted by Professor Charles Steffen, PhD, Georgia State University.

Note: Look with me please at the sentence which ends with the eight words, “in case the City wants to wade in.” Imagine for a moment that this were the only piece of discovery in the possession of the Baker Donelson attorneys. Is Central Atlanta Progress lined up with the City in the City’s wish to close Peachtree-Pine? Does Central Atlanta Progress write drafts for the City to edit? Does the City “wade in” to non-profit agencies that it funds? Does Central Atlanta Project as the heart and life of the business community “wade in” to struggling not for profit agencies who work night and day to help the poor? Fortunately or unfortunately, depending on field position, the Baker Donelson attorneys representing the Task Force possess thousands of documents similar to this one. As I write this blog two days after Christmas, 2009, 750 homeless men wait in their home, The Center at Peachtree-Pine, wondering what will become of them. Part of their unending pain is their knowing that their fate rests in the hands of Richard Orr and Debi Starnes and Jack Hardin and Shirley Franklin and Pete Walker and Milton Little and A. J. Robbinson and Protip Biswas and Peggy Denby and Dave Wardell and Nancy Boxill and Rufus Terrill and Horace Sibley. Any wonder they languish in their chains?

“… in case the City wants to wade in.”

Richard “We’re in!” Orr in his September 12, 2008, e-mail to Catherine Woodling at City Hall wrote, “My writing style is geared toward AJ, so feel free to change, use or toss in case the City wants to wade in.” Mr. Orr concluded this e-mail using his word “crap” in reference to an op-ed piece published that morning in the AJC submitted by Professor Charles Steffen, PhD, Georgia State University.

Note: Look with me please at the sentence which ends with the eight words, “in case the City wants to wade in.” Imagine for a moment that this were the only piece of discovery in the possession of the Baker Donelson attorneys. Is Central Atlanta Progress lined up with the City in the City’s wish to close Peachtree-Pine? Does Central Atlanta Progress write drafts for the City to edit? Does the City “wade in” to non-profit agencies that it funds? Does Central Atlanta Project as the heart and life of the business community “wade in” to struggling not for profit agencies who work night and day to help the poor? Fortunately or unfortunately, depending on field position, the Baker Donelson attorneys representing the Task Force possess thousands of documents similar to this one. As I write this blog two days after Christmas, 2009, 750 homeless men wait in their home, The Center at Peachtree-Pine, wondering what will become of them. Part of their unending pain is their knowing that their fate rests in the hands of Richard Orr and Debi Starnes and Jack Hardin and Shirley Franklin and Pete Walker and Milton Little and A. J. Robinson and Protip Biswas and Peggy Denby and Dave Wardell and Nancy Boxill and Rufus Terrill and Horace Sibley. Any wonder they languish in their chains?

Richard "We're in" Orr knows "crap" when he sees it, touches it, or smells it

From: Richard Orr
Sent: Friday, September 12, 2008
To: Woodling, Catherine
Subject: Our bosses were chatting today

about the Steffan op-ed in the AJC. AJ told the Mayor we had roughed out a response but weren’t sure where it should come from. The Mayor has a hard copy and one is attached. My writing style is geared toward AJ, so feel free to change, use or toss in case the City wants to wade in.

Does it seem like to you that crap like this Steffen guy always happens on Friday?

Note: I could write a Master’s thesis on this memo. First, Mr. Orr has an uncanny ability to ferret out, uncover truths and treasures. He uses the word “crap” in a most unusual way. Crap means excrement or nonsense. Please note that A. J. Robinson in his letter to Lisa Borders (please see my blog on CAP demanding justice, December 26, 2009)) asks for a standard of “dignity” and asks that all sides be given a fair hearing. Evidently, Mr. Orr does not know that Charles Steffen, whom he calls “this Steffen guy” is a full, tenured professor in the distinguished Department of History at Georgia State University. Dr. Steffen is a first rate scholar in American history and deserves Orr’s respect. He goes so very far out on a limb, not with Steffen, but with his dreaming, “My writing style….” Orr’s writing style reminds me of my golf swing. It doesn’t exist. Mr. Orr notices “crap” except when he causes it. Look with me at his sentence:

Does it seem like to you that crap like this Steffen guy always happens on Friday?

Does the “crap” refer to Dr. Steffen? Does the “crap” refer to what Dr. Steffen wrote in his piece to the AJC? Does the “crap” refer to both the writing and to Dr. Steffen? This sentence stumps me. Mayhap Steve “the weasel” Visser and Rhonda “the whole truth” Cook could offer help on their next visit to CAP. Help me readers. I have not read Dr. Steffen’ op-ed piece; I did not know that he had written it before I read Orr’s “crap” e-mail. I’ll find it and publish it so we all can look at the “crap” together and gain from Orr’s wisdom.

James Wilson Beaty, PhD
Jeremiah 22.16

Richard “We’re in” Orr knows “crap” when he sees it, touches it, or smells it

From: Richard Orr
Sent: Friday, September 12, 2008
To: Woodling, Catherine
Subject: Our bosses were chatting today

about the Steffan op-ed in the AJC. AJ told the Mayor we had roughed out a response but weren’t sure where it should come from. The Mayor has a hard copy and one is attached. My writing style is geared toward AJ, so feel free to change, use or toss in case the City wants to wade in.

Does it seem like to you that crap like this Steffen guy always happens on Friday?

Note: I could write a Master’s thesis on this memo. First, Mr. Orr has an uncanny ability to ferret out, uncover truths and treasures. He uses the word “crap” in a most unusual way. Crap means excrement or nonsense. Please note that A. J. Robinson in his letter to Lisa Borders (please see my blog on CAP demanding justice, December 26, 2009)) asks for a standard of “dignity” and asks that all sides be given a fair hearing. Evidently, Mr. Orr does not know that Charles Steffen, whom he calls “this Steffen guy” is a full, tenured professor in the distinguished Department of History at Georgia State University. Dr. Steffen is a first rate scholar in American history and deserves Orr’s respect. He goes so very far out on a limb, not with Steffen, but with his dreaming, “My writing style….” Orr’s writing style reminds me of my golf swing. It doesn’t exist. Mr. Orr notices “crap” except when he causes it. Look with me at his sentence:

Does it seem like to you that crap like this Steffen guy always happens on Friday?

Does the “crap” refer to Dr. Steffen? Does the “crap” refer to what Dr. Steffen wrote in his piece to the AJC? Does the “crap” refer to both the writing and to Dr. Steffen? This sentence stumps me. Mayhap Steve “the weasel” Visser and Rhonda “the whole truth” Cook could offer help on their next visit to CAP. Help me readers. I have not read Dr. Steffen’ op-ed piece; I did not know that he had written it before I read Orr’s “crap” e-mail. I’ll find it and publish it so we all can look at the “crap” together and gain from Orr’s wisdom.

James Wilson Beaty, PhD
Jeremiah 22.16

The Second Day of Christmas

On the second day of Christmas
A. J. gave to me
Two worn out shoes and a kick in the seat of my pants.

James Wilson Beaty, PhD
Jeremiah 22.16

Minutes By Minutes–to the last syllable of recorded time/2007

The following is quoted directly from the minutes of the October 10, 2007, Executive Committee of Central Atlanta Progress, Inc. and Board of Directors of Capacity, Inc.:

Homeless Update: Robinson informed the committee that a good detail of attention was being paid to the impact of the Peachtree-Pine shelter on the surrounding community. The City has recommended to the State that funding be withheld and the City also plans to divert funding to more successful uses.

James Wilson Beaty, PhD
Jeremiah 22.16

Central Atlanta Progress Demands Justice–FOR Central Atlanta Progress

The following is a letter written to Lisa Borders from A. J. Robinson asking that “all sides have equal hearing and be free from verbal attack.” Before I read this letter today, I was not aware that Mr. Robinson, President of CAP, wanted the Peachtree-Pine Shelter and Anita Beaty to have “equal hearing and to be free from verbal attack. My God, what a fair man! His letter is dated August 7, 2007:

August 7, 2007

The Honorable Lisa Borders
President
Atlanta City Council
Suite 2900
55 Trinity Avenue, SW
Atlanta, GA 30303

Dear Lisa:

I want to share my experience and the reactions of many more of our constituents who sat through and eight-hour Community Development Committee meeting last week. The issue of discussion was related to the City’s advisory letter to the state that the Peachtree-Pine shelter did not meet the test to deserve public funding. As you know this meeting was preceded by a lengthy City Council meeting regarding the same subject.

While we strongly agree with the City’s stance, my comments are more directed toward the sheer lack of decorum of the meeting, the unnecessary rhetoric, and those who came to provide legitimate comment on the issue.

For years, representatives of our membership and neighborhood groups have come to meetings and have sat quietly for long hours to speak on issues, only to be verbally attacked, called racists, slave owners and much worse by contingents of the homeless community, former City council members, and Anita Beaty and Company.

I, and many others, find this a sad commentary on the way the diginity and democracy of Council proceedings has (sic) been allowed to deteriorate into a three-ring shouting match peppered by racial epithets.

Just as sad are the many hours of time (Council members, staff) that were expended over a $100,000 grant. As a tax payer, it doesn’t send a good signal as to the efficiency of the process.

There will always be legitimate disagreement in matters of policy as to the City’s governance. Conversely, there should always be a setting where all sides have equal hearing and are free from verbal attack.

I would be glad to work with you on this matter in the future.

Sincerely,

A. J. Robinson
President

Note: Please read in another blog (Nov. 21, 09, The Evil Tentacles of CAP–Court Exhibit 13), A.J. Robinson’s electrically recorded conversation with Pete Walker asking if Pete knows how Judith of Mercy Housing can find a way to put the Task Force in default. Here is a man who speaks of “dignity and democracy.”

James Wilson Beaty, PhD
Jeremiah 22.16

Starnes' Score, 99 to 1

The uniqueness of the following e-mail from Debi Mae Starnes, Senior Advisor to Franklin on Homeless Policies to Richard Orr, Senior Project Manager of Central Atlanta Progress is that Starnes tells the truth. Her e-mail to Orr is dated Monday, August 6, 2007, and the subject is RE: Sunday editorial? Her message to Orr: No – I think it was 99% bad for the Task Force and only a sentence or two for us in the last paragraph. Plus, we just responded two weeks ago to their pictorial editorial. Debi

Note: In my years of reading The Narrow I have never see the Task Force or Anita Beaty mentioned when it was not in a bad light. The late Maynard Jackson came to Anita Beaty’s 50th birthday party at Grant Park and told me as he left that gathering that Anita was attacked in the daily newspaper more than he. We laughed; that was 17 years ago. And the beat goes on.

Does Starnes’ use of “us” and “we” tie CAP to the efforts to destroy the federally funded Task Force? You be the judge. What do you think the jury will think? FEDERAL! FEDERAL! FEDERAL! Remember I’m reading DISCOVERY for a law suit that is now in a FEDERAL court. And the brain trust lawyers for the city made the request to move the lawsuit from the city-friendly Fulton County Superior Court. Perhaps they can lunch with the FEDERAL judges. I doubt it. Did Starnrs coach the AJC editor? The paper enjoys journalistic privilege, but it does not practice journalistic objectivity?

James Wilson Beaty, PhD
Jeremiah 22.16