The Senator Terry Brown Amphitheater is causing so much drama and division. Despite a 2015 groundbreaking, there is still little consensus on a path forward.

The entire area has been robbed, or should I say deprived, of the opportunity to make enjoyable use of this city treasure. One of the key selling points to BRAC (the Base Realignment and Closure Commission) was that Columbus would have a first-class family entertainment venue for our servicemen and their families to enjoy when they come to town. The goal was to impress upon them the importance of keeping our pilot training base open right here in Columbus, said Jeff Smith, a local attorney.

Now this current group of part-time employees at City Hall who, suddenly, as if struck by lightning, are scrambling to get the amphitheater up and running just weeks before the April elections—and I wonder why?

Vice Mayor Joseph Mickens Sr. admitted the onus to take action was on him and his colleagues to act quickly now, yet they haven’t done anything for the last eight years except talk! Allegedly, after eight long years, he too is now sick and tired of looking at it.

Councilman Stephen Jones has also been part of the problem! He has been a holdout for an “all or nothing” approach, which is why nothing has been done. He stated for the record that he doesn’t want to “piecemeal” the project but wants it all completed—yet he didn’t know how to go about it for eight long years. Now, he is in favor of dipping into the $5 million reserve fund, with $3.5 to $4 million allocated for the amphitheater.

He confronted the CFO about changing his stance on the reserves after meeting with him and asked why that was. Ethel Stewart also questioned the CFO for clarification. Jacqueline DiCicco’s position on the matter wasn’t made clear.

Keith Gaskin and Councilman Rusty Greene don’t want to use the reserve funds but instead want to use the $1 million already set aside to get the venue operational within the next six months—on a functional, partially completed basis with lawn chairs, sound equipment, and portable toilets.

Everyone has a different opinion, going in seven different directions—just like they haven’t been able to agree on anything else substantial over the last four years. This discussion was tabled until a planned stakeholders’ meeting next week to come up with a plan—not to save the Senator Terry Brown Amphitheater, but to save their jobs.

The residents of Columbus may have been born at night, but it wasn’t last night! Columbus, if ever there was a time we needed change and to move in a new direction, it’s now! Get out the vote!

Larry Watson

Columbus