Gun violence rises to the top of Columbus residents’ concerns at state rep town hall
Dozens of Columbus and Muscogee County citizens peppered four Georgia legislative delegates at a town hall on Wednesday at the Columbus Public Library with their pressing concerns in the city.
Gun violence came in high on their list.
“We are here because we want to hear from you,” Columbus House Representative Carolyn Hugley said to a room of constituents. “I can’t represent you without knowing what you need.”
Several hands were raised with questions that followed asking, what can be done about the city’s gun violence and crime?
Hugley (D-141) reassured residents that she too shares this concern, and is close to the issue.
“My husband is the City Manager [Isaiah Hugley], and his phone constantly rings with calls about gun violence”, Hugley said.
Newly elected, Representative Teddy Reese (D-140) understood the concern and shared his own recent experience with a shooting.
“I feel your passion. I’m experiencing the same problem,” he said.
On Christmas Day Reese heard gunshots near his house off of Wynnton Road.
“It was so close and loud that it had me checking myself for bullet holes because it happened so quickly,” Reese said. “The fact that someone would be so comfortable firing off shots is an issue. It feels like we’re in a war zone.”
Reese wants constituents to understand that this is a local issue that needs to be addressed with Columbus city council.
“The pressure needs to be applied to local law enforcement and city council,” Reese said. “Our job is to make sure there are additional resources to assist in the resolve.”
Columbus registered at least 57 homicides in 2023, according to a running tally kept by the Ledger-Enquirer.
Veterans, minimum wage and voting rights
Hugley led the 90-minute town hall that saw a swath of issues come up such as veterans’ rights, a livable minimum wage, housing and voting rights..
She opened with a remark reminding residents that this is the second year of the two-year 2024 legislation, and bills that failed (or did not pass) in 2023 have an opportunity to be presented and win, even if they were defeated in 2023. For Hugley, housing and tenants’ rights are issues she believes constituents should know about.
“There is an important bill relative to renters rights, stating all structures have to fit for human habitat,” (this is the Safe Home Act HB 404 which failed last year in April) Hugley emphasized, “Senators are going to address that this year.” This bill ensures renters have homes in livable conditions.
Senator Ed Harbison (D-15) gave an opening statement about themes that come up every year and the importance of the election.
“Abortion, redistricting, gun legislation come up every year, over and over again,” Harbison said. “This is going to be a big big big–to the nth degree–year for elections. I’ve never seen anything like this.”
Taxes & The latest with protecting Okefenokee
Hugley and Harbison congratulated Reese for passing a bill in his first year.
“That is a big achievement,” Hugley said.
Reese helped pass HB 175. The tax bill will benefit organizations to give out scholarships to students in need and wave taxes for disabled veterans. This took effect Jan. 1st.
Another tax break that went into effect in 2024, is the new Georgia state income tax rate.
“You can look for tax breaks this year,” Harbison said.
Income tax will drop to 5.49% from 5.75% thanks to the Tax Reduction and Reform Act of 2022 (HB 1437) which will continue to have a gradual reduction each year until it reaches 4.99% by 2029.
Reese sits on the Economic Development & Tourism Subcommittee Sustainable Economic Development. When the Ledger-Enquirer asked about the likelihood that one of several bills that would pass to protect the Okefenokee Swamp, Reese said his committee is considering declaring it a United Nations World Heritage Site.
“If we get it designated it will be a game-changer for all of Georgia,” Reese said. “Think about the tourism and activities it will also bring attention to other sites, like the Little Grand Canyon, our museums in Columbus, or white water rafting. There are so many opportunities from an economic perspective and natural resource protection.”
Representative Debbie Buckner (D-137) sits on the natural resources subcommittee and has sponsored several bills for years to help protect those resources. She is not confident three of those will pass.
“There is one bill that would say they would never mine titanium next to the swamp, I don’t think that will move forward,” Buckner said. “There is a second bill that gets at the same thing but it may or may not get hearing. It has signatures. There is a third bill that comes at it from a different angle.”
That third bill is essentially looking at whether the mining company has a bad track record or is a bad actor.
“What we know is that the company that wants to mining operation in the ridge of Okefenokee has been involved in some bad environmental activities in Alabama,” Buckner said.
Turning it into a World Heritage site could take until late 2025. “We’re hoping all of it (the bills and the world heritage designation) comes together at the right time,” Buckner said.
When the session concluded applause and shouts of appreciation met the delegates.
This story was originally published January 5, 2024 at 5:00 AM.
