$271,250 of “Indefinite” Local Annual Subsidies for Federal Contractor
by Don Moniak
March 28, 2023
According to a recently obtained “Savannah River Litigation Settlement Fund Request Form,” the City of Aiken’s estimated annual operating costs for the proposed Savannah River National Laboratory’s (SRNL) “Workforce Development” office complex in downtown Aiken is at least $271,250.00; or $2.71 million over the first ten years. This annual subsidy for the lab facility, which is expected to require allocations of hospitality tax revenues, was omitted by city officials during the announcement of the project and during subsequent public discussions.
The request form contains the $20 million dollar request to South Carolina’s Executive Budget Office for “SRS/National Laboratory Off-Site Infrastructure.” The money was allocated to any public body in Aiken County by the General Assembly for the purpose of such a facility, but still requires formal project approval through the budget office and the legislative Joint Bond Review Committee (JBRC).
Even though consultants and city council members have stated the decision is “not a done deal,” the funding request confirms the City’s intent to build a 45,000 square foot office complex for SRNL on a half-acre of property currently under the control of the nearly defunct Aiken Municipal Development Commission (AMDC).
According to SRNL director Dr. Vahid Majidi, the downtown lab office complex is intended to house unspecified computational work, nonproliferation (1) training programs, and human resources:
“SRNL employees will perform some of our computational modeling and simulation. We’ll have a team of employees working with the university to increase our engagement with faculty postdoctoral and graduate students interns and minority serving institution programs. Some of our employees will work on non-proliferation training programs while other will work on Workforce Development and HR functions moreover as a collaboration Hub.” (2)
As reported in There Must Be a Joke in There Somewhere, Dr. Majidi stressed that the downtown facility will not involve “chemical hoods or hazardous materials,” but did not elaborate on the depth of often-classified and secretive non-proliferation work that will occur at the facility.
The Justification
According to the “Project Description and Justification,” the downtown location was chosen “because of the walking distance proximity to cultural amenities, dining, retail stores, and lodging.” The facility will be a “shared event/exhibition space and office space” where employees of SRNL’s contractor Battelle Savannah River Alliance (BSRA) will work on “critical projects for SRNL as part of the university consortium.” (3)
A justification for the facility not previously disclosed is “hosting and training non-U.S. citizens, which is currently difficult to do within the highly-secured areas at the Savannah River Site.”
This justification is contradicted by the SRNL lease at the the Advanced Research Center (ARC) off-site facility in Aiken County’s 422-acre Caroll H. Warner Savannah River Research Campus. SRNL is also tasked by DOE with operating a second off-site facility, the 60,000 square foot Advanced Manufacturing Collaborative at USC-Aiken that is presently under construction and is expected to cost $50 million.
Costs
The total $20 million in upfront project costs do not include land acquisition, the $7.0 million estimated cost of a parking garage for the facility, or the $250,000 “predevelopment” contract with the Aiken Corporation that is part planning, part marketing.(4) There is, however, $2.7 million in “unknowns” in the “contingency” column. The remainder of the $17.3 million in known estimated costs are:
- $2.0 million for architectural and engineering professional services
- $1.5 million for site development, for which only “demolition” is the description.
- $13.8 million for new construction of the 45,000 square foot, T-shaped, three-story facility
The annual operating costs, all of which are described as recurring “indefinitely,” are broken down into three categories:
- Utilities: $157,000, at a cost of $3.50 per square foot.
- Maintenance and Repairs: $33,750, at a cost of $0.75 per square foot
- Salaries, Benefits, Payroll Taxes: $80,000 for “maintenance and facility management staff”
A note on the annual operating costs states:
“SRNL (BSRA) has agreed to negotiate an operating agreement under which the tenant will be responsible for proportional utility, maintenance, tax and insurance obligations for the portion of the facility exclusively occupied by the tenant. The remaining proportional expense for the remaining shared public areas of the facility will be the responsibility of the City of Aiken funded by a variety of existing revenue streams to include hospitality taxes.”
Left out of the request form is the fact that the City of Aiken intends to maintain “control” of the facility by leasing it to its long time private partner, the quasi-governmental, not for profit Aiken Corporation.
On March 13, 2023, four members of Aiken City Council approved a no-bid, $250,000 contract (4) with the Aiken Corporation to pay the architectural firm of McMillan Pazden and Smith (MPS) to conduct “pre-development” work on the project ranging from “public engagement,” “stakeholder interviews,” site evaluation including its “historical nature,” learning the city’s zoning laws and comprehensive plan, and “assisting the planning team in developing guiding principles for the overall form and massing of any proposed buildings as well as their impact on the pedestrian experience.” The contract also included backdating prior commitments between the Aiken Corporation and MPS. (5)
Another part of the contract requires the Aiken Corporation to hire a lawyer “ to provide legal services” including “drafting a lease between Developer and Third Parties.”
Three Council members properly recused themselves from the vote to comply with state ethics laws:
- Councilwomen Gail Diggs and Lessie Price, who are voting members of the Aiken Corporation; but who, on March 27th, expressed their intention to resign from the Aiken Corporation Board of Directors.
- Mayor Rick Osbon, an owner of Osbon Cleaners whose only downtown and North Aiken competitor is Warneke Cleaners, whose existing location will be demolished and relocated.
Status of the Funding Request.
The $20 million request was sent to Aiken County Administrator Clay Killian prior to January 27, 2023. Mr. Killian did not sign and approve the request, and forward it to the state’s Executive Budget Office, until March 14, 2023–too late for submission for the Joint Bond Review Committee’s (JBRC) March 22, 2023 meeting agenda. The $20 million line item remains unallocated until the request is approved by the JBRC.
The JBRC approved $27.1 million of plutonium funds for three projects in January 2023, and were asked to reconsider one request. No reply has been forthcoming.
* Editor’s Note: Project “Labscalis” is a hybrid term used to refer to the Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) Workforce Development Center being proposed on properties obtained by the Aiken Municipal Development Commission (AMDC) as the core area for the demolition and redevelopment endeavor known as Project Pascalis. Thus, Labscalis.
(May 18, 2023.)
Footnotes:
(1) A key element of SRNL’s mission is nuclear nonproliferation, an intelligence program and very broad field that ranges from treaty verification to detecting and recovering lost or stolen nuclear materials. SRNL describes the program area as, “supporting the intelligence needs of the United States. SRNL employs its unique expertise in nuclear technologies, Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) signatures, and regional security analysis to examine foreign programs in support of DOE, the Intelligence community, and other U.S. government organizations. As part of the Interagency Treaty Process, SRNL provides support to NNSA and other government organizations for their participation in the process that develops U.S. positions on the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty and the Fissile Material Cutoff Treaty, as well as other agreements required for nuclear trade with other countries.”
This work is primarily under the auspices of the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), with some contract work with other federal agencies. The NNSA is also responsible for producing nuclear weapons for deployment by the Department of Defense; and insuring the safety, security, and reliability of the U.S. nuclear weapons arsenal.
(2) From Dr. Majidi’s comments at the January 23, 2023 “State of the City” jamboree. The full comments, taken from the You Tube transcript and edited for clarity were:
“Well good good evening everybody just want to remind you it’s a Kinder year. So we’re going to start on that note. Five years ago ago I moved to Aiken to become the director of Savannah River National Laboratory. I came here because the laboratory had a reputation for being able to consistently get the work done but also because I knew it had the largest potential for growth amongst all National Laboratories.
Just three years ago the Department of Energy acted on their long-standing vision of an enduring National Laboratory in South Carolina and created an opportunity for the lab to be operated as an independent National Laboratory. The purpose of a National Laboratory is to address large complex research and development challenges with a multi-disciplinary approach. Savannah River National Laboratory is the newest National Laboratory under the Department of Energy. Nationwide there are 17 DOE National Labs and SRNL is the only lab in Carolina serving the Southeast region of the United States along with our good partners at Oakridge National Laboratories.
[Mayor Osbon adjusts his microphone]
One disadvantage of being a short laboratory director is that somebody else has to adjust your microphone for you.
Today our laboratory is operated by a vital cooperatorion with University of South Carolina Clemson, South Carolina State, University of Georgia, and Georgia Institute of Technology.
Our mission is ensuring America’s security and prosperity by addressing its energy environmental and nuclear challenges through transformative Science and Technology Solutions. We create high quality jobs in central Savannah River area, and our enduring economic engine attracting not only professionals from all across the country but also Advanced science and technology-based companies to CSRA.
SRNL achieved its Mission by attracting motivating and training a diverse and highly skilled Workforce to execute on complex DOE programs. This new facility in Aitkin allows a laboratory to have a more direct presence in the community we serve with the goal of developing a pipeline of new Talent as well as developing the existing employee base. It will also complement our brand new Advanced manufacturing collaborative as USC Aiken, creating a hub for partnership with industry and Academia.
What else are we planning to put in this building?
“I should emphasize that this Savannah River National Laboratory building is being designed for only computational administrative work we don’t have any chemicals hoods or hazardous material in this facility uh….”
[very light applause and few laughs from the crowd]
“There is a joke there somewhere right?”
“SRNL employees will perform some of our computational modeling and simulation. We’ll have a team of employees working with the university to increase our engagement with faculty postdoctoral and graduate students interns and minority serving institution programs. Some of our employees will work on non-proliferation training programs while other will work on Workforce Development and HR functions moreover as a collaboration Hub.”
This facility will host faculty and students and allows for scientific Gatherings including technical discussions poster presentations and other student programs. We will have the Next Generation classroom space for training sessions and will support remote learning environments. It will host science and technology engineering and math camps for Teacher development workshops but a specific focus on K-12.
University of South Carolina Aiken will have an enduring presence through their Workforce Development program. I’m very much looking forward to expanding our activities with USCA on both, in this new facility and advanced manufacturing collaborative building [Applause]
But most importantly this building is the community face of the laboratory. A portion of this building will be open to the public to Foster Community awareness of the work we do at SRNL, and its benefits to the society. The lobby will display our most recent scientific work, and this facility is the first stop for all new laboratory employee upon their entry for onboarding and training.
It takes a great Community to make something like this possible I want to make sure that I take a moment to recognize Governor Henry mcmaster’s hard work to identify this need and to allocate a 20 million dollar for this facility. We’re grateful for Governor McMaster’s enduring support. Moreover, we’re grateful to the South Carolina state legislatures for their wisdom to recognize the need and the necessity for this building to help us bring the laboratory to the community. I also want to recognize the city of Aiken, the Mayor’s office, and the city council members for their steadfast supports to bring this project to reality. I want to recognize the Department of Energy for selecting the Battelle Savannah River Alliance as the management and operating company for the laboratory, to create an enduring capability in South Carolina. this building along with the advanced manufacturing collaborative brings the Savannah River National Laboratory into the Heart of the Aging Community we plan to be a productive citizens and hope to have a broader impact to our community.”
(3) As reported in “Offsite Infrastructure,” SRNL’s most vital missions involve nuclear weapons work and risk reduction from Cold War era nuclear weaponry materials production—most notably plutonium production.
(4) The resolution in support of the Aiken Corporation contract with the City of Aiken; and the MPS letter to the Aiken Corporation
(5) The partial contract, which does not contain backdated agreements between MPS and Aiken Corporation, is available on pages 223-234 in the March 13, 2023 meeting agenda packet.
The minutes from that meeting are available on pages 19-23 of the March 27, 2023 meeting agenda packet.
I do wish we could all get on the “same page” on these topics! At least in theory, we all want to protect Aiken. HAFs position as voiced by Resident Linda Johnson in an article published by the Aiken Standard might be summarized as “HAF is pleased that SRNL will be building their office in downtown Aiken”, and then later on the Do it Right FB page Johnson further endorsed the proposed SRNL project by stating something about “not understanding why the Do it Right FB page members were being difficult when the SRNL project was good for Aiken and good for her friends who work at the Lab who don’t like having to deal with the isolation and complicated security required at SRS (no
Place for lunch)
HAF is a plaintiff in the Do it Right lawsuit, with others. If I am correct (which doesn’t seem to happen often on these topics) the lawsuit is filed by Do it Right. Luis Rinaldini and David Blake are in charge of the lawsuit. The petition and yard signs are Do it Right projects. Luis Rinaldini and Linda Johnson are in charge of the petition (now inactive) . Although the two entities are separate, the lines can appear blurred, which seems to allow for misunderstandings.
Possibly, Do it Right should meet, organize , elect officers and make a plan? Without 501(c)3 status, Do it Right has more latitude HAF is already organized with a clear and admirable mission statement, perhaps Do it Right needs its own mission?
I have begged Do It Right to get 501 status. Crickets.
We need to speak to our leadership about this. Please contact. Mandy and Don for sure. Ty for your comment. 🙂
So once again, instead of the City Counsil being honest and open with the tax paying citizens, they are putting together somewhat secret plans that, once again, seem to primarily benefit themselves and their personal/business associates, aka – The Aiken Foundation. Shameful!
Do you mean the Aiken Corporation rather than Aiken Foundation?
Yes, I did mean the Aiken Corporation. Forgive my error please.
” The contract also included backdating prior commitments between the Aiken Corporation and MPS. (5)
“Backdating prior commitments” sure seems like a nice way of saying making rigging ok.
Last night’s meeting proved not only did they learn nothing from failed project pascalis, it seemed something has emboldened them not even to care about appearances. The wheels sure fell off the Mayor’s decorum wagon when presented with the facts. If anyone should pull the gloves off during public comment it should be citizens for what this council has done in the last year but instead the Mayor, who seemed to have mistaken his title for King, showed his true colors last night and for no reason other than the truth had been served. Thank you Don for being an example for us all not only in how to serve the truth but how to maintain your cool when the Mayor loses his.
The spontaneous Executive Session following your comments said it all. They can’t handle the truth……..most of them appeared not even to understand it! The layered cake of conflicts continues to grow and the Aiken Corporation links/contract is now the topper and they clearly were happy to Let them eat Cake last night.
The proposed Bomb Plant Lab and it’s parking garage are being pushed separately just like the elements of Pigscalis were in a game of bad idea whack a mole.
Thank you for researching, documenting, and explaining this what appears to be annual Bomb Plant Lab Welfare…. cause scientists need a place to each lunch too!
The current campaign to ruin downtown Aiken, the SRNL Lab, workforce offices, Apartments(?), multi-story parking garage is just as wrong as the last Pascalis project. Can it be stopped? Must we accept this unnecessary, inappropriate and, I believe largely unwanted destruction of Aiken’s historic downtown as inevitable? What can be done, especially since a major player in the effort to stop Pascalis has gone over to the “dark side”… ?
Johanna, from an architectural preservation perspective, there are some important distinctions between the SRNL project and Pascalis, namely:
– The City is consulting with the Historic Aiken Foundation (HAF) to ensure that they abide by preservation laws and guidelines.
– The City is also consulting with notable, independent historic preservation experts.
Does that mean the City is suddenly trustworthy? No, but it is significantly more hopeful than what happened with Pascalis.
Also, as far as I am aware (like it or not), the SRNL proposed buildings/parking garage are allowed by City ordinances. That was not the case with Pascalis.
Speaking as a HAF board member, HAF is in no position to tell the City or SRNL that legally-allowed buildings/structures cannot be built or even where they can be located. We can, however, ensure that:
– no historic buildings are destroyed in the process
– any buildings/structures that are built adhere to historic guidelines/ordinances and do not damage Aiken’s historic architectural heritage
Lastly, I would like to note that the HAF (and others) sued the City over Pascalis. In fact, we are still suing the City over Pascalis . Clearly we are not afraid to take the City to task if needed.
Hampton C. Wyat. 1. How do you know that the SRNL proposed buildings/parking garage are allowed by City ordinances, when there no designs have been put forth? How does anyone know if the proposal complies with City Ordinance, yet?
2. How can an HAF Board Member cite a lawsuit that involved violations of state ethics, FOIA, and Community Development laws, but claim that this project has passed the same legal muster? Are you not aware that this planning to date has occurred for AMDC properties and Community Development Law still applies to those properties? Or that secret meetings that could violate FOIA Open Meetings laws are Or that the continued denial of access to AMDC records and books is a continued violation of Community Development Law?
3. How can you claim that a work session on the parking garage (that HAF has apparently endorsed?) during which only the developer was heard is acting within the spirit and letter of FOIA Open Meeting laws, not to mention due process?
4. If, as an HAF Board member, you believe this lab project is “Significantly more hopeful than what happened with Pascalis,” does that mean you are willing to overlook the secrecy to date that has marked this process, and the $250,000 no-bid contract awarded to Aiken Corporation that allows it to begin negotiating a lease agreement with SRNL before the city even officially owns the properties?
Thank you, Don. There is always more than meets the eye.
For reasons unknown HAF seems to be fully onboard with this overly large SRNL project right in the center of our beautiful historic town.
For those who are not questioning the motives of HAF (Historic Aiken Foundation), it’s time to start doing that!
Valerie,
Apparently you misunderstand HAF’s purpose, which is limited to preserving Aiken’s historic character. We have no say over where SRNL wants to put their building or the parking garage. We can only stop these structures if they are 1. Illegal (as Pascalis was) and 2. They do not meet the historic guidelines for appearance. That’s it! We have no problem with taking the City to task again if these factors are not met.
With best regards,
Hampton
Don,
I am quite surprised by your response, which I do not feel accurately reflects what I wrote in my post. However, because I have the greatest respect for your work, I am going to let it pass this time.
With best regards,
Hampton
Mr. Wayt,
Why not answer the questions posed? Is it within HAF’s scope to promote or endorse a project that has yet to be officially approved? Many think an RFP should be put out for all of the taxpayer funded Pascalis properties not just the Hotel and there is strong opposition to a federal contractor district on Newberry not to mention the added layer of secrecy and lack of public involvement when partnering with a corporation for the project that “isn’t a done deal” yet the City has submitted applications for PU money for it, they have hired architects for it and they have voted to enter a contract with the Aiken Corp regarding it. It sure appears to me by public comments made by several of your fellow board members that your organization is endorsing the project itself rather than just sticking to the historic window dressings after the project is officially approved. Maybe you have seen what they have in mind before the public? So far we have only been shown hideous renderings of a parking garage.
Kelly,
I cannot answer the questions that Don posed because he put words in my mouth. I do not feel any need to attack him, having great respect for his work. But I am hurt that he would respond in the way that he did.
Also, as I stated above, HAF has no control over the SRNL project except to ensure that Aiken’s architectural integrity is preserved.
Some board members are supporting the IDEA of the SRNL project because development is vital for historic preservation (not counter to it, as people often falsely believe). That said, if once revealed, the SRNL project does not conform to established ordinances/preservation guidelines, HAF will have no problem taking the City to task once again.
With best regards,
Hampton
Thanks so much Hampton,
I appreciate you being willing to get into the conversation!
Regarding your response that HAF’s place is to “ensure that Aiken’s architectural integrity is preserved”
Ms. Johnson, immediately after the Mayor’s announcement of the partnership with SRNL oops………. make that the Mayor Pro Tem’s announcement since the Mayor has a giant conflict of interest, seemed to give the project a glowing endorsement in the paper as the President of HAF. You can see that article here.
https://www.postandcourier.com/aikenstandard/news/local-government/plans-to-build-savannah-river-national-laboratory-workforce-center-in-downtown-aiken-draw-mostly-praise/article_21dd3b72-9c27-11ed-91a3-bbc89a0ba53f.html
Ms. Johnson also later spoke in favor of using 9.6M of the Plutonium windfall to pay off the Pascalis properties on the Feb 13th, 2023 meeting of the Aiken City Council at the first reading of the item. This is documented in the Aiken Chronicles article called Structured Parking Solution for the Lab
https://aikenchronicles.com/2023/02/28/structured-parking-solution-for-the-lab/
during a discussion on plutonium settlement funds utilization, Historic Aiken Foundation President Linda Johnson spoke in favor of paying off the $9.6 Project Pascalis debt from the $25 million settlement allocation.
I attended that meeting and observed her comments in person as well as Mr. Lius Rinaldini’s another fellow board member of yours putting on the record his support for the lab. This is also documented in The Aiken Chronicles article Structured Parking Solution for the Lab. He states in part:
“The consequence of your actions is that, for example on the Savannah River National Lab deal, you are now a negative despite all your good work on it. The public reception was very hostile and we’re having to work very hard to turn them around
Later, when speaking about Council’s plan to assume the duties of the AMDC, Rinaldini, who is also an Historic Aiken Foundation board member, stated that “we’re trying to explain to the community why a preservation organization and others might support the lab project.”
When HAF members who are also plaintiffs in the Blake et al case speak on the record as “we” or “we’re” it might be helpful for them to identify who we is. Is it HAF? Is it their fellow plaintiffs?
We all have the right to our individual opinions but thousands of Aikenites have signed a petition that these people were a part of and I believe many became members of HAF because of this effort to stop Pascalis. I know several people who did and they are very disenchanted with your fellow board member’s current support of a federally contracted facility in the place where small businesses one thrived and the ones left are still thriving (eaten at Taj lately? Its always packed)
Condoning the funding also poses questions to me and are they doing that as HAF? As Plaintiffs?
I attended a recent lecture of Mr Rinaldini’s at the Historic Museum called New Ideas in Downtown Development and when someone asked him about using the Plutonium money for downtown I believe his response was “I don’t care if the devil gives us the money.”
Some of your other board members remain steadfast to the cause. I have seen Mandy Nicoli-Drumming call for an RFP for the hotel that only includes restoration and back up this suggestion with Aiken’s own guidelines on the subject. I have seen Lisa Smith post alternative sites for the proposed SRNL project (like the old Hospital) in order to save Newberry St for small private businesses and they never say they represent anyone other than themselves when doing this.
Don’t be hurt by Don’s questions as it is those very same types of questions that exposed many violations over the course of failed Project Pascalis. Don is one of the most honest and fair minded individuals you could ever hope to cross paths with. Certainly as someone against Pascalis you can see the need for questioning everything.
I encourage you to get answers to the questions he posed and thank you for being willing to get into the conversation!
Well said Kelly!!!
Hampton C. Wayt,
What was inaccurate? I asked questions about what I viewed as inconsistencies in the comments, but not a single question was addressed. So in regard to the comment:
“ Also, as far as I am aware (like it or not), the SRNL proposed buildings/parking garage are allowed by City ordinances. That was not the case with Pascalis;”
how does anyone know whether the proposed SRNL buildings are allowed by City ordinance when there is not even a preliminary design and the feasibility study is ongoing?
————————————
Legal Issues
HAF is one plaintiff in a lawsuit that involves allegations of violations of state law as well as city ordinances. AMDC officials already admitted that state Community Development Law was violated, and in fact put a pause on Project Pascalis, prior to the Blake et al lawsuit, to attempt to comply with that law as it pertained to Redevelopment Plans and RFPs. Some of that information is right here and more is on the way:
https://aikenchronicles.com/2023/02/17/rebranding-project-pascalis/
So how can HAF say that its role is “limited to preserving Aiken’s historic character, We have no say over where SRNL wants to put their building or the parking garage,” (in response to V. Wrobel), when the lawsuit alleges numerous violations of FOIA, ethics, and Community Development Law that are related other issues regarding Aiken’s historic character, but also stand on their own, apart from any historic preservation issues?
HAF “Purpose”
Worse than that, how can HAF say its purpose is solely historic preservation on the one hand, yet its leadership (though not an official Board position) has endorsed the lab project based on potential economic impact, and before a single drawing has been presented?
The SRNL project is plagued by many of the same issues.
What would be beneficial to all of us who “misunderstand” HAF’s role and purpose, is to
1. Publicly disclose your bylaws, since HAF is now partnering with the City of Aiken, as the AECOM report recommended.
2. Issue a public statement from the HAF Board regarding its position on the SRNL project and the garage, which are technically separate at this point, as you can see from the funding request in this article.
3. A Board position on the future of the other downtown Pascalis properties that are publicly owned would also be helpful, so as to avoid any misunderstandings.
Back to the Lab Project.
As for the lab project, it is not SRNL’s sole choice on where to locate it, and it is not SRNL’s money to spend. It is Aiken County money allocated by the state, which looks to be going to the City of Aiken.
These are state funds dedicated to “Offsite Infrastructure,” and, according to Aiken Corporation consultant K.J. Jacobs of McMillan Pazden and Smith, other sites are still under consideration. This is a community decision to be made regarding publicly owned properties and state money—not a decision to made by a federal contractor who owns no property and has no funding to pursue either their office complex or a garage necessary for such a complex if it is sited downtown.
This article is about the subsidies proposed by the City of Aiken for that office complex, which will result in the demolition of one of the oldest, if not the oldest, downtown business. As anyone can see, this is an issue of fiscal responsibility as much as it is one of historical preservation. The latter is but one variable in the equation, not the defining variable.
I will be stepping out for the rest of the day, and will return tomorrow to see any answers to any questions.
Thank you
Despicable
It seems we can do something, sure it seems we are not as focused. But , we do have hope
It’s not like a done deal. Let’s live outwardly our values to be real. #doitright