“I want to emphatically say that the National Rhythm and Blues Hall of Fame has not received any approvals from the Office of the Mayor nor the Augusta Commission for a permanent home or event to be held in Augusta, Georgia.

Choosing Augusta as a place to open a business is always an exciting venture for any company. For years, I have said that Augusta is a place of choice for those across the nation to consider. In the instance of the National Rhythm and Blues Hall of Fame, it is important for all to know that choosing a “permanent home” in Augusta and going through the proper approval process to become a business in this city is two very different things.

I want to urge our residents to temper their excitement about the conversation surrounding the proposed National Rhythm and Blues Hall of Fame and Augusta potentially hosting the 2021 induction ceremony. Items such as this, have always gone through a review and approval process and we will do nothing less in this instance. The premature press releases have done nothing to bring this idea to a constructive place beyond the immediate reaction shown by the community.

As I noted in my previous statement two weeks ago about this organization – we need more than an idea; in fact, we need more than a fifteen-minute conference call to provide any consideration or approval of such efforts within the City of Augusta.

To that end, I would encourage the National Rhythm and Blues Hall of Fame organization to cease and desist announcing Augusta, Georgia, as its permanent home.”