Squawkbox – August 12, 2025

No, no, no! The city rebuilds the Ritz every 20 years, only to see it crumble and die again and again. Jimmie’s Hot Dog works; Ritz, never. Albany Theater’s heritage died with my generation. Who cares? It’s dead folks, a blighted relic, money sinkhole where no one will visit or live, no matter how many millions are spent. Shoot that old horse and let’s move on.

Once your credibility is gone, it’s gone. Can’t get it back. Listening, Trumpers?

Welcome to Albany, Dr. Scott. I was impressed with the things you had to say in Saturday’s Herald. Here’s hoping you get the backing — from the university and from the state — to bring about significant positive changes to our university.

The majority of the government projects for seniors and low-income are built by a developer in Valdosta who is also an attorney. He does this to communities throughout the Southeast. 

Glad to see that former Georgia Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan has left the GOP entirely and plans to join the Democratic Party. The hapless Georgia Republican Party expelled him because he spoke at the Democratic National Convention and endorsed Kamala Harris. Duncan is a man of principles. This trait is sorely lacking in Trump’s MAGA party.

The Capitalists (the rich) will benefit from Trump’s policies, not the working class that got fooled into voting for him.

Older folks seem to have the knowledge to not make the same mistakes but continue to do so. Their younger counterparts think they have the knowledge to not make the same mistakes but they continue to do so. Point: Are you really thinking or doing what feels good and maintains your status quo, guided by the unknowing and the uncaring?

Enjoyed the article about Dr. Knox, Georgia’s state climatologist. May her knowledge rain on climate change deniers. 

Nice tribute, Fletcher, to Dr. Culbreath. As you noted, there aren’t many like him around here.

Embarrassing article in Georgia Trend on Albany. Ignorant local politicians discuss wasteful spending of our tax dollars. A new gym, new basketball court and bidding opportunities on even more buildings. Mentions the pork barrel walking tour and even more project housing. Do our local politicians think that business owners and employers don’t notice this foolishness?

Retired people should be completely tax exempt. They have already paid their dues.

I sure hope you are around for a long time so you can witness first-hand the long overdue clean-up of the highly toxic Obama/Biden mess our country is in. Maybe then you can rest easy knowing the United States is finally back on the right track.

I was intrigued to read the story about Albany State University’s new president. Obviously, the story was based on your conversation, but the prez said the right things. I thing he can have a huge impact on ASU, and Albany can become, as Dr. Charles Ochie wrote recently, a true college town.

When all of the jobs go away due to the tariffs, will Trump fire everyone at the Bureau of Labor Statistics?