About
Adam Beam covers the City of Columbia for The State newspaper. Here, he blogs about local government. Reach him at (803) 386-7038 or abeam@thestate.com
Category Archives: Columbia city government
Cromartie’s last speech
If you’ve ever been to a Columbia City Council meeting, odds are you’ve witnessed one of Councilman E.W. Cromartie’s legendary speeches — where words like “cohesify” were born.
Before his resignation today amid charges of federal tax evasion, Cromartie presided over one last City Council meeting and ended it with one last speech.
Click here to hear [...]
Cromartie speaks
Sort of.
He issued this news release today just before 6 p.m:
Official Press Statement of
EW Cromartie II
March 8, 2010
I am genuinely sorry for my mistakes in judgment. I am deeply grateful to the citizens of District II and the City of Columbia, and the thousands of people who have supported me over my 27 years of [...]
Cromartie’s federal court documents
Columbia City Councilman E.W. Cromartie has agreed to plead guilty to federal tax evasion. As part of a plea agreement, he will resign from office and serve time in prison.
You can read the court documents below:
Information
Plea agreement
Health care is expensive
I’m working on a story about Columbia’s health care costs for city employees.
The story is scheduled to run Monday, but here are some numbers to tide you over until then.
How much money have taxpayers spent on city employees health care claims?
2004: $10,434,439
2005: $11,831,345
2006: $13,382,924
2007: $15,663,351
2008: $16,681,243
The invitation