Stacey Jackson, the defense attorney representing some Columbus Parks and Recreation employees, said Wednesday that contrary to what city officials have claimed, no contract exists between Nike and the department.
Jackson also said there is no agreement between the City of Columbus and East Marietta Basketball, Inc., a non-profit organization. This contradicts city records that indicate East Marietta Basketball manages a Nike sponsorship for Parks and Recreation's Innovative Sports Program.
"Any donations that may have been made by East Marietta Basketball to the program or to players of the program is no different from any private person," Jackson said.
Jackson elaborated that "...no money, no checks or anything have been paid to the City of Columbus."
This comes as Jackson is preparing a response to Georgia's attorney general's office, which is handling an open records complaint filed by the Columbus city attorney's office.
The attorney general's office sent Jackson a letter calling into question his position on Park and Recreation's relationship with Nike and East Marietta Basketball:
"First, Mr. William Fox, Director of Basketball Operations for East Marietta, stated in a May 24, 2010 letter to the City that the 'Georgia Blazers program was offered a Nike Grassroots basketball sponsorship...East Marietta is a non-profit 501-c3 organization that signed the contract with Nike and handles necessary funds for this particular team.' Mr. Fox goes on to state 'We hope to continue our partnership with the boys program in Columbus, Georgia.'"
Jackson has until Friday to respond to the attorney general's office.
Meanwhile, the Georgia NAACP President Edward DuBose supports Jackson and his co-counsel (for Parks and Recreation employees) Don Jackson.
DuBose writes, "The investigation also represents a dangerous effort by the Mayor to usurp the authority of the Columbus City Council and its minority members."
Mayor Jim Wetherington said Tuesday that he takes the blame for not following proper procedure in how the Parks and Recreation audit was distributed. But Wetherington said the concern moving forward is seeing what the Nike contract, if any, says.
"It all relates together, the Marietta group and Nike and Parks and Recreation," Wetherington said. "We just want to take a look at it and see what’s going on with the contract and see just what the contract says and how it relates to Columbus."
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