Having talked to a few folks regarding the random note in David Poythress's weekly campaign update that stated that Athens-Clarke County District One Commissioner Doug Lowry told the gubernatorial candidate that the Unified Government might have to transfer money from the General Fund to the Clarke County Board of Education if the latter can't meet its budgetary needs, I've detected two strong sentiments ...
- It's not being discussed and, even if it was, it would require some legal hoop jumping given the separation of the two entities;
- There's a consensus that Poythress is fundamentally mistaken on this, not Lowry.
I'm waiting to hear back from Lowry to get his version of their conversation.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Money transferrals
Some interesting news focused on Athens-Clarke County coming from David Poythress's weekly campaign update ...
Earlier in the day, Elizabeth and I had the opportunity to visit Doug Lowery, Athens-Clarke County District 1 Commissioner. We spent nearly an hour talking about local issues and how the current state leadership has slowly taken local control away from cities and municipalities. Commissioner Lowery lamented the probability of having to rely on the Unified government’s general fund to assist the Athens-Clarke County school system with possible budget shortfalls--property owners are currently being taxed at the highest allowable millage rate, which won’t produce enough revenue to make up for the state cuts to education.
Earlier in the day, Elizabeth and I had the opportunity to visit Doug Lowery, Athens-Clarke County District 1 Commissioner. We spent nearly an hour talking about local issues and how the current state leadership has slowly taken local control away from cities and municipalities. Commissioner Lowery lamented the probability of having to rely on the Unified government’s general fund to assist the Athens-Clarke County school system with possible budget shortfalls--property owners are currently being taxed at the highest allowable millage rate, which won’t produce enough revenue to make up for the state cuts to education.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Long time coming
While I'm not entirely in favor of a dramatic loosening of our water restrictions, this is some incredibly welcome news. To think that we were roughly a month away from running out of water just a year-and-a-half ago to see all our reservoirs full or above-pool levels is amazing.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Unrelated
I've been trying to catch up on some movies the past few weeks, and while I had thought that 3:10 to Yuma would rank as the best one I had seen, Tim graciously introduced me to Hot Rod. I don't think I'm being overdramatic when I suggest that the compilation to Europe's Rock The Night ranks alongside the 'Saying Grace' scene from Talledega Nights as one of the greatest collection of scenes in cinematic history.
Friday, March 27, 2009
The drama continues
A little more on the parking drama, but the plot thickens.
Apparently the original one-hour limits on downtown parking weren't some concoction from the minds of the Athens-Clarke County Commissioners, but based on the recommendations and done with the blessings of the Athens Downtown Development Authority, which represents downtown businesses (along with another organization).
This was pointed out to me by a few sources just as I was reading this week's City Dope in Flagpole, which said this ...
... Turns out, downtown business and property owners now say they were not consulted on the matter, and they disagree with the ordinance passed this month that would keep one-hour parking meters on Clayton and Broad streets. Commissioner Mike Hamby, who sits on the Athens Downtown Development Authority board, says he’ll move to have the item reconsidered and tweaked at the Apr. 7 Commission meeting, making two-hour meters the blanket standard. Some downtowners also want the David Lynn-proposed $10 and $15 fees reexamined, but that appears unlikely. Just FYI.
This whole thing seems mighty muddled, doesn't it? First, we have a collection of downtown business owners grandstanding over an unnecessary petition that merely requests something the commission had already told said owners they were willing to do anyway. Second, if the ADDA was content with the original proposal regarding the one-hour limit - and had even, as has been reported widely, that they offered recommendations on fines and limits to the commission - then the argument that they weren't consulted seems, well, kinda wrong.
Apparently the original one-hour limits on downtown parking weren't some concoction from the minds of the Athens-Clarke County Commissioners, but based on the recommendations and done with the blessings of the Athens Downtown Development Authority, which represents downtown businesses (along with another organization).
This was pointed out to me by a few sources just as I was reading this week's City Dope in Flagpole, which said this ...
... Turns out, downtown business and property owners now say they were not consulted on the matter, and they disagree with the ordinance passed this month that would keep one-hour parking meters on Clayton and Broad streets. Commissioner Mike Hamby, who sits on the Athens Downtown Development Authority board, says he’ll move to have the item reconsidered and tweaked at the Apr. 7 Commission meeting, making two-hour meters the blanket standard. Some downtowners also want the David Lynn-proposed $10 and $15 fees reexamined, but that appears unlikely. Just FYI.
This whole thing seems mighty muddled, doesn't it? First, we have a collection of downtown business owners grandstanding over an unnecessary petition that merely requests something the commission had already told said owners they were willing to do anyway. Second, if the ADDA was content with the original proposal regarding the one-hour limit - and had even, as has been reported widely, that they offered recommendations on fines and limits to the commission - then the argument that they weren't consulted seems, well, kinda wrong.
We're all on board
It's nice that Leon Galis supports the unnecessary petition from the downtown business community because so does the Athens-Clarke County Commission.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Sorting through the parking
Just for some clarity, Blake states the increased parking rates are $1 an hour, but the story he cites puts forward $.50 an hour ... a number confirmed to me by Athens-Clarke County District 10 Commissioner Mike Hamby earlier today (when he also confirmed that a pledge had already been made to the downtown business owners earlier this month that the commission would work to put in place two-hour limits on parking rather than one-hour ones).
Blake and I share the same sentiment - that folks opposing this change are being more than a tad irrational about it - but there seem to be a lot of different numbers and opposing facts going on out there.
Blake and I share the same sentiment - that folks opposing this change are being more than a tad irrational about it - but there seem to be a lot of different numbers and opposing facts going on out there.
Looking backward
Athens-Clarke County and Oconee County are about to lose the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and 30 percent of the paper's news staff is about to be cut. Of course, as I've argued at Safe As Houses, this would seem to be a backward way of addressing the real problem ... which is the fundamental fact that the old model of journalism is dying.
The craft of journalism will live on, but just in a new medium. So, again, I think it's foolish to lop off those who generate your content rather than restructure your program, thus amending your model and resulting in lower personnel costs in other areas.
The craft of journalism will live on, but just in a new medium. So, again, I think it's foolish to lop off those who generate your content rather than restructure your program, thus amending your model and resulting in lower personnel costs in other areas.
The two-hour limits
Granted I was kinda hard on some folks in this post, but it's been building for a while and perhaps I used an ax when a scalpel would have been more appropriate in my criticism. Still, after a conversation with Athens-Clarke County District 10 Commissioner Mike Hamby earlier this morning, I'm still somewhat puzzled by the response of the downtown business owners.
Athens-Clarke County Mayor Heidi Davison and Hamby both sit on the board of the Athens Downtown Development Authority and, during the March 10 meeting where the idea of the petition emerged, heard the concerns levied by some of business owners downtown regarding the one-hour parking limit. At the meeting, Hamby told the group he was more than willing to reconsider the time limit and would gauge the interest among the other commissioners.
He told me that, based on his conversations, he felt confident there would be enough support to convert all of the downtown parking spots into two-hour ones with each hour costing $.50, though he said he would remain firm in keeping the fines at their recently raised levels. Hamby added that the ADDA was aware of this work and that the proposed revisions would be discussed at the next commission meeting, and he encouraged the group to be engaged in the process.
This additional background leads me to this conclusion ... if these business leaders knew the one-hour time limit would be reconsidered, and that there was a willingness to put in place a new two-hour time limit, why the need to publically complain about something that would change anyway? To me, at least, it seems like a rather counterproductive strategy to want to voice such strong disapproval of something that you know, in good faith, is going be changed to accommodate your wishes.
Athens-Clarke County Mayor Heidi Davison and Hamby both sit on the board of the Athens Downtown Development Authority and, during the March 10 meeting where the idea of the petition emerged, heard the concerns levied by some of business owners downtown regarding the one-hour parking limit. At the meeting, Hamby told the group he was more than willing to reconsider the time limit and would gauge the interest among the other commissioners.
He told me that, based on his conversations, he felt confident there would be enough support to convert all of the downtown parking spots into two-hour ones with each hour costing $.50, though he said he would remain firm in keeping the fines at their recently raised levels. Hamby added that the ADDA was aware of this work and that the proposed revisions would be discussed at the next commission meeting, and he encouraged the group to be engaged in the process.
This additional background leads me to this conclusion ... if these business leaders knew the one-hour time limit would be reconsidered, and that there was a willingness to put in place a new two-hour time limit, why the need to publically complain about something that would change anyway? To me, at least, it seems like a rather counterproductive strategy to want to voice such strong disapproval of something that you know, in good faith, is going be changed to accommodate your wishes.
The usual faux outrage
I've come to increasingly believe that a chunk of business owners in Athens-Clarke County are more concerned with throwing illogical temper tantrums rather than actually make sound assessments of the impact of policy on business. While I can concede that a two-hour parking limit makes more sense to me, and I can also recognize that a one-hour limit or two-hour limit really won't do anything to deter anyone from residing in their parking spot for as long as they desire.
And that's largely because people have to conduct business downtown and, when compared with the private parking options, the fine is still a more cost-effective approach to finding parking. Furthermore, one of the primary reasons the commission opted to take action on this front was to make sure cars didn't sit downtown all day and move them to those alternative options, like the parking decks, which offer more flexible schedules.
Still, you'd think this was the end of the world based on Rusty Heery's response.
But, again, that's not shocking. For the past decade, some Athens-Clarke County business owners - or at least the organizations that represent them - have responded to these types of ordinances in a kneejerk fashion, masking political biases behind the guise of 'that's bad for business.'
If any of this high-and-mighty outrage sounds familiar, it should ... just drop the word 'median' around any business owner in Athens-Clarke County and you'd think the local government was going to send armed guards out to deter shopping. However, there's a funny thing about the whole indignation over medians ... it's localized. There are ample medians along Epps Bridge Road in Oconee County, which is held up as the paradigm of proper government-business relations, and those businesses are booming.
The same holds for other 'pro-business' communities like Gwinnett County, Columbia County, Chatham County, Charlotte, N.C. and so on and so on. These are places that utilize medians, set restrictions on parking, tackle blighted properties and other various parallel challenges that, in Athens-Clarke County, seem to be absurdly blown out of context by a vocal few.
Now, as I've argued before, I have acknowledged that there is a widespread perception that Athens-Clarke County is 'anti-business' and, while I personally believe much of that perception is not reality-based, I also acknowledge that some of the criticism is grounded in truth (and must be addressed). However, after observing local politics for the better part of the past five years, I've also grown convinced that a large portion of that perception is generated by a handful of individuals who, quite simply, enjoy perpetuating it based on their own petty, personal differences.
Again, the parking fine changes aren't perfect - and I doubt their ability to generate enough turnover in spots downtown - but, given a few pragmatic tweaks, they can be a step in the right direction. Throwing temper tantrums, however, just shows how removed from the reality of the situation you really are.
And that's largely because people have to conduct business downtown and, when compared with the private parking options, the fine is still a more cost-effective approach to finding parking. Furthermore, one of the primary reasons the commission opted to take action on this front was to make sure cars didn't sit downtown all day and move them to those alternative options, like the parking decks, which offer more flexible schedules.
Still, you'd think this was the end of the world based on Rusty Heery's response.
But, again, that's not shocking. For the past decade, some Athens-Clarke County business owners - or at least the organizations that represent them - have responded to these types of ordinances in a kneejerk fashion, masking political biases behind the guise of 'that's bad for business.'
If any of this high-and-mighty outrage sounds familiar, it should ... just drop the word 'median' around any business owner in Athens-Clarke County and you'd think the local government was going to send armed guards out to deter shopping. However, there's a funny thing about the whole indignation over medians ... it's localized. There are ample medians along Epps Bridge Road in Oconee County, which is held up as the paradigm of proper government-business relations, and those businesses are booming.
The same holds for other 'pro-business' communities like Gwinnett County, Columbia County, Chatham County, Charlotte, N.C. and so on and so on. These are places that utilize medians, set restrictions on parking, tackle blighted properties and other various parallel challenges that, in Athens-Clarke County, seem to be absurdly blown out of context by a vocal few.
Now, as I've argued before, I have acknowledged that there is a widespread perception that Athens-Clarke County is 'anti-business' and, while I personally believe much of that perception is not reality-based, I also acknowledge that some of the criticism is grounded in truth (and must be addressed). However, after observing local politics for the better part of the past five years, I've also grown convinced that a large portion of that perception is generated by a handful of individuals who, quite simply, enjoy perpetuating it based on their own petty, personal differences.
Again, the parking fine changes aren't perfect - and I doubt their ability to generate enough turnover in spots downtown - but, given a few pragmatic tweaks, they can be a step in the right direction. Throwing temper tantrums, however, just shows how removed from the reality of the situation you really are.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Couple of things
- The Kid's got tonsilitis, which is not terribly fun, so that's impacting blogging, work and general not-letting-the-house-implode-in-on-itself actions.
- An interesting idea, but it kind of misses the boat as Athena has actually established itself over the past two to three years in this market. And, to me, it just reinforces the struggles that the traditional media is having in adapting to the changing landscape as the magazine is being rolled out first, not the web site.
- As the Clarke County Board of Education continues its perpetual struggle to find an effective leader, it's worth noting that this guy, just two years ago, was heading up a local school ... you know, before they ran him off.
- This is a few days old, but I have to offer a hearty 'Amen' to Athens-Clarke County District Five Commissioner David Lynn for this ...
It seems to me that this light ordinance is something which just isn't going to pass and the only person really interested in seeing some variation of it move forward (or, shall I say, one specific variation of it move forward) isn't even on the commission anymore. We've been listening to this debate for more than two years now, and nothing's been done on something which, given the other numerous challenges confronting the community, is rather inconsequential.
- An interesting idea, but it kind of misses the boat as Athena has actually established itself over the past two to three years in this market. And, to me, it just reinforces the struggles that the traditional media is having in adapting to the changing landscape as the magazine is being rolled out first, not the web site.
- As the Clarke County Board of Education continues its perpetual struggle to find an effective leader, it's worth noting that this guy, just two years ago, was heading up a local school ... you know, before they ran him off.
- This is a few days old, but I have to offer a hearty 'Amen' to Athens-Clarke County District Five Commissioner David Lynn for this ...
But Kinman, along with Hoard and Commissioner David Lynn, said they are not interested in working on the law anymore. The commission already has voted down lighting laws twice in the past eight years, and commissioners and planners have spent years crafting new versions.
"There's no reason to keep working on this," Lynn said. "We - you - have more important things to do. We have a stimulus package to put together. We have budgets to pass. We've spent enough time on lighting. We need to move forward."
It seems to me that this light ordinance is something which just isn't going to pass and the only person really interested in seeing some variation of it move forward (or, shall I say, one specific variation of it move forward) isn't even on the commission anymore. We've been listening to this debate for more than two years now, and nothing's been done on something which, given the other numerous challenges confronting the community, is rather inconsequential.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Righteous indignation
Cross-posted at Safe As Houses.
This is absolute insanity.
Seriously, I want to know what the new publisher has on J.T. because it must be really good to result in one of my former trusted colleagues and valued mentors penning some of the most ridiculous, poorly articulated and factually inaccurate editorials that I've ever seen. Because since that guy showed up, we've seen praise of Rep. Paul Broun's faux stimulus giveaway and an obsession with Congressional procedures, often times at the expense of the usual constructive dialogue on local affairs that I've come to appreciate from J.T.
Listen, I've got little love for Rep. Keith Heard. I don't think he's a terribly effective legislator, isn't awfully responsive to his constituents and his support of The Georgia Power Ponzi Scheme is justification enough for a primary challenge. But, I'm also capable of enough rational thought to recognize that, at times, the guy is right.
The line of argument in the Athens Banner-Herald, it seems, isn't capable of it ....
However, the fact some in the House opted for a more obstructionist course doesn't absolve Heard of blame in this sad little episode. Heard either knew, or should have known, that his resolution possibly might provoke a reaction in the full House, particularly insofar as it presumed to ascribe the perfectly legitimate sentiments of the black caucus - and, very possibly, any number of other legislators - to the entire body.
In short, for Heard and like-minded House members to throw a political bomb, and then display outrage at its clearly foreseeable explosion, is the height of disingenuousness and pointless political opportunism.
I mean, what in the hell are you talking about? What planet have you arrived from? Do they have politics there?
Are you familiar with the concept of resolutions?
Somehow this editorial managed to label a resolution honoring the President of the United States a 'political stunt' ... which is a head-scratcher for me. Somehow the obstruction in the Georgia House of Representatives cooked up by a group of Republicans so desperate to avoid actual governance is Heard's fault. Somehow this opposition's deliberate delay and subsequent defeat of the resolution, something unprecedented in the Georgia House, is Heard's fault (remember that the same body, in 2005, with overwhelming support from the Legislative Black Caucus, passed a resolution honoring President George W. Bush for his response to Hurricane Katrina). Somehow introducing a resolution honoring a president with a 70 percent approval rating is politically dangerous because it might 'provoke a reaction.'
Obviously, then, since a resolution is a political stunt, the ABH must be furious over the 732 other resolutions that have passed this legislative session.
Where was the outrage over H.R. 113 that honoring the work of the Hall County Chamber of Commerce CEO? Why wasn't the ABH up in arms over H.R. 43 offered by Rep. Bob Smith that commended former Oconee County Commissioner Don Norris since, arguably, since he's a conservative and that should surely anger progressives?
Or, for that matter, why the silence on the Georgia Power Ponzi Scheme? As I noted earlier, if you're going to get all high and mighty over Heard offering one of the hundreds of resolutions that get approved with no discussion - because, as the editorial argues, he should be focused in like a laser beam on our state's challenges - then why no focused criticism on his support of that bill?
The only bomb-throwing going on these days is from the ABH's editorial pages, though, it seems, most of what they like to toss as of late are duds.
This is absolute insanity.
Seriously, I want to know what the new publisher has on J.T. because it must be really good to result in one of my former trusted colleagues and valued mentors penning some of the most ridiculous, poorly articulated and factually inaccurate editorials that I've ever seen. Because since that guy showed up, we've seen praise of Rep. Paul Broun's faux stimulus giveaway and an obsession with Congressional procedures, often times at the expense of the usual constructive dialogue on local affairs that I've come to appreciate from J.T.
Listen, I've got little love for Rep. Keith Heard. I don't think he's a terribly effective legislator, isn't awfully responsive to his constituents and his support of The Georgia Power Ponzi Scheme is justification enough for a primary challenge. But, I'm also capable of enough rational thought to recognize that, at times, the guy is right.
The line of argument in the Athens Banner-Herald, it seems, isn't capable of it ....
However, the fact some in the House opted for a more obstructionist course doesn't absolve Heard of blame in this sad little episode. Heard either knew, or should have known, that his resolution possibly might provoke a reaction in the full House, particularly insofar as it presumed to ascribe the perfectly legitimate sentiments of the black caucus - and, very possibly, any number of other legislators - to the entire body.
In short, for Heard and like-minded House members to throw a political bomb, and then display outrage at its clearly foreseeable explosion, is the height of disingenuousness and pointless political opportunism.
I mean, what in the hell are you talking about? What planet have you arrived from? Do they have politics there?
Are you familiar with the concept of resolutions?
Somehow this editorial managed to label a resolution honoring the President of the United States a 'political stunt' ... which is a head-scratcher for me. Somehow the obstruction in the Georgia House of Representatives cooked up by a group of Republicans so desperate to avoid actual governance is Heard's fault. Somehow this opposition's deliberate delay and subsequent defeat of the resolution, something unprecedented in the Georgia House, is Heard's fault (remember that the same body, in 2005, with overwhelming support from the Legislative Black Caucus, passed a resolution honoring President George W. Bush for his response to Hurricane Katrina). Somehow introducing a resolution honoring a president with a 70 percent approval rating is politically dangerous because it might 'provoke a reaction.'
Obviously, then, since a resolution is a political stunt, the ABH must be furious over the 732 other resolutions that have passed this legislative session.
Where was the outrage over H.R. 113 that honoring the work of the Hall County Chamber of Commerce CEO? Why wasn't the ABH up in arms over H.R. 43 offered by Rep. Bob Smith that commended former Oconee County Commissioner Don Norris since, arguably, since he's a conservative and that should surely anger progressives?
Or, for that matter, why the silence on the Georgia Power Ponzi Scheme? As I noted earlier, if you're going to get all high and mighty over Heard offering one of the hundreds of resolutions that get approved with no discussion - because, as the editorial argues, he should be focused in like a laser beam on our state's challenges - then why no focused criticism on his support of that bill?
The only bomb-throwing going on these days is from the ABH's editorial pages, though, it seems, most of what they like to toss as of late are duds.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Random movie notes
I had wanted to see it for awhile, but I didn't realize how much I would absolutely enjoy Forgetting Sarah Marshall, particularly the whole Dracula-rock-opera-in-the-bar thing.
Oh, and Mila Kunis was a nice touch too.
Oh, and Mila Kunis was a nice touch too.
Friday, March 20, 2009
Music for the moment
In trying to recapture the original spirit of the first incarnation of Safe As Houses, I'm proud to reintroduce 'Music For The Moment' on Fridays.
High Cotton by Alabama
No Shirt, No Shoes, No Problem by Kenny Chesney
Love Your Love The Most by Eric Church
It Happens by Sugarland
This Time by Waylon Jennings
High Cotton by Alabama
No Shirt, No Shoes, No Problem by Kenny Chesney
Love Your Love The Most by Eric Church
It Happens by Sugarland
This Time by Waylon Jennings
Not. The. Point.
Oh Becky ... I love you to death, but you sure as hell undercut our narrative, didn't you?
I don't think anyone's saying that folks who work on local school boards or county commissions aren't underpaid, but that's not the issue here. The issue is that they tried to secretly cram through a pay hike that would go into effect mid-term ... in the middle of an economic crisis ... when other positions were being cut ... and after two high-profile errors in judgement regarding the superintendent and Oconee County High School softball coach.
Raises aren't bad, but it's important to understand the context too.
I don't think anyone's saying that folks who work on local school boards or county commissions aren't underpaid, but that's not the issue here. The issue is that they tried to secretly cram through a pay hike that would go into effect mid-term ... in the middle of an economic crisis ... when other positions were being cut ... and after two high-profile errors in judgement regarding the superintendent and Oconee County High School softball coach.
Raises aren't bad, but it's important to understand the context too.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Cost analysis
Via Flagpole ...
And he suggested cutting out one of the county’s two “Link” vans, which offer on-demand service to areas off regular routes. It costs the county over $20 a trip, and “it’s just a small handful of people that ride it,” he said. “You can send a cab out cheaper,” added ACC Manager Alan Reddish, and “we have some very difficult budget issues for next year.”
But citizens in the westside Stonehenge neighborhood “really do want” Link service, Commissioner Ed Robinson countered; the issue is part of the legacy of racism in Athens, he added. In the 1960s and ’70s, “we did go to some of our African-American communities and basically steal their property for free, and tear it down,” Robinson said, for projects like UGA dorms, “and then relocate them out to the county line.”
While I'm completely sympathetic to the countless injustices that have been dealt out over the year to the African-American community in Athens-Clarke County, I'm also aware of the actual stastical data which shows that 'The Link' is not a viable transporation option for the westside. Given the challenges of our budget, it's more than worthwhile to explore all sorts of ways to offset costs, and this seems like a necessary, albeit unfortunate, one.
Granted, there are numerous other ways to approach our transportation challenges - regional light rail anyone? - and it's high time we start aggressively making the course for just that type of interconnected system.
And he suggested cutting out one of the county’s two “Link” vans, which offer on-demand service to areas off regular routes. It costs the county over $20 a trip, and “it’s just a small handful of people that ride it,” he said. “You can send a cab out cheaper,” added ACC Manager Alan Reddish, and “we have some very difficult budget issues for next year.”
But citizens in the westside Stonehenge neighborhood “really do want” Link service, Commissioner Ed Robinson countered; the issue is part of the legacy of racism in Athens, he added. In the 1960s and ’70s, “we did go to some of our African-American communities and basically steal their property for free, and tear it down,” Robinson said, for projects like UGA dorms, “and then relocate them out to the county line.”
While I'm completely sympathetic to the countless injustices that have been dealt out over the year to the African-American community in Athens-Clarke County, I'm also aware of the actual stastical data which shows that 'The Link' is not a viable transporation option for the westside. Given the challenges of our budget, it's more than worthwhile to explore all sorts of ways to offset costs, and this seems like a necessary, albeit unfortunate, one.
Granted, there are numerous other ways to approach our transportation challenges - regional light rail anyone? - and it's high time we start aggressively making the course for just that type of interconnected system.
(Not Really) Breaking News!
Gee, it must pay to work for the local newspaper.
I mean, of course earning a meaningless chair position in the middle of a county solidly held under the rule of one party is front page news.
I mean, of course earning a meaningless chair position in the middle of a county solidly held under the rule of one party is front page news.
What has Broun done for you (again)?
Joining his six other Georgia Republican allies in the House of Representatives, Rep. Paul Broun has voted against a proposal to reclaim the bonus money from AIG.
Granted, it's not always the best course of action to base your decisions based on the wishes of the electorate, but it is important to note that 76 percent of the country thinks AIG should return the bonus money to the federal government.
You know, I keep hearing about how Broun is this supposed populist, but rewarding one of the financial firms that helped cause our current economic crisis at the expense of the taxpayers he claims to be fighting for doesn't really seem like putting his constituents first.
Granted, it's not always the best course of action to base your decisions based on the wishes of the electorate, but it is important to note that 76 percent of the country thinks AIG should return the bonus money to the federal government.
You know, I keep hearing about how Broun is this supposed populist, but rewarding one of the financial firms that helped cause our current economic crisis at the expense of the taxpayers he claims to be fighting for doesn't really seem like putting his constituents first.
The speculation begins ...
With Sen. Ralph Hudgens seeking the Insurance Commissioner post, one has to wonder who'll jump in for the race for District 47. We've already got one candidate on the Republican side in Tim Echols, who has long served as Rep. Paul Broun's campaign treasurer and resident hatchetman in the Athens Banner-Herald. Though I have no evidence or rationale to support this, I'm curious if James Garland would seek the seat. He's a solid conservative hailing more from the libertarian wing of the party, and the district would set up well for him.
On the Democratic side, it's just a tough district, but some names I've heard in the past day include ...
Tom Chasteen - The former Athens-Clarke County Commissioner would be a very strong candidate, but it would still be an uphill battle for him. He could, however, race a good chunk of money and would be a solid competitor.
Mike Smith - I think Smith, the current sheriff of Oglethorpe County, has the ideal profile for the race. However, he's never run a race that would require this much work, and there's no reason to think he'd want to give up a full-time job in law enforcement to pursue a part-time one for less money and more hassles.
Tim Riley - Two sources have told me he's considering making a second run for the seat, but I don't see it as feasible. He struggled to raise money last time around, and there's not much indication he could better that in 2010.
Laura Floyd - The president of the Oglethorpe County Democrats, Floyd has good contacts and deep roots to the community. Her implicit tie to the party, however, might be difficult in the Republican-friendly district.
On the Democratic side, it's just a tough district, but some names I've heard in the past day include ...
Tom Chasteen - The former Athens-Clarke County Commissioner would be a very strong candidate, but it would still be an uphill battle for him. He could, however, race a good chunk of money and would be a solid competitor.
Mike Smith - I think Smith, the current sheriff of Oglethorpe County, has the ideal profile for the race. However, he's never run a race that would require this much work, and there's no reason to think he'd want to give up a full-time job in law enforcement to pursue a part-time one for less money and more hassles.
Tim Riley - Two sources have told me he's considering making a second run for the seat, but I don't see it as feasible. He struggled to raise money last time around, and there's not much indication he could better that in 2010.
Laura Floyd - The president of the Oglethorpe County Democrats, Floyd has good contacts and deep roots to the community. Her implicit tie to the party, however, might be difficult in the Republican-friendly district.
Couple of things
- Watkinsville's pondering retail sales of alcohol, which makes a lot of sense seeing how I can easily buy a six-pack of Bud Light from the Golden Pantry down the street from my house, but can't do so two miles or so when I turn to the right from the same gas station.
- Wow. Can't say I disagree with this editorial in the slightest, but it's funny to see it so early in the cycle. Granted, Sen. Ralph Hudgens is a rather pathetic shame of an elected representative who aims to serve the insurance lobbyists he's supposed to regulate and monitor more than the actual folks who, for no good reason whatsoever, keep sending the man back to Atlanta, but no matter. Still, if nothing else, it would spare this area from his lunacy (and I'd be happy to consider organizing 'Democrats for Seth Harp' if it would sink Hudgens in the GOP primary).
- Then again, Tim Echols is running for District 47, so I suppose it's all relative.
- I've got a few thoughts on the whole 'Morris Communications is gonna cut worker pay to hold on to its high profit margin rates' situation.
- Wow. Can't say I disagree with this editorial in the slightest, but it's funny to see it so early in the cycle. Granted, Sen. Ralph Hudgens is a rather pathetic shame of an elected representative who aims to serve the insurance lobbyists he's supposed to regulate and monitor more than the actual folks who, for no good reason whatsoever, keep sending the man back to Atlanta, but no matter. Still, if nothing else, it would spare this area from his lunacy (and I'd be happy to consider organizing 'Democrats for Seth Harp' if it would sink Hudgens in the GOP primary).
- Then again, Tim Echols is running for District 47, so I suppose it's all relative.
- I've got a few thoughts on the whole 'Morris Communications is gonna cut worker pay to hold on to its high profit margin rates' situation.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Benefit for AAHS
The Athens Area Homeless Shelter is holding a benefit film showing next week to raise money for the organization ...
AAHS BENEFIT SCREENING: WHERE GOD LEFT HIS SHOES - THURSDAY MARCH 26th
The Athens Area Homeless Shelter presents these special screenings of the new feature film, WHERE GOD LEFT HIS SHOES, winner of the Humanitas Prize for Best Feature Film at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival.
When Frank (John Leguizamo), Angela, and their two children are evicted from their New York City apartment, they have no choice but to move into a homeless shelter. After a few difficult months, good news comes their way on Christmas Eve: a nearby housing project has an apartment available immediately-however, Frank needs a job on the books in order to qualify. While the rest of the city prepares for Christmas, Frank and his ten-year-old stepson, Justin, roam the cold streets of New York trying to find a job by day's end. Where God Left His Shoes is the story of a family that refuses to break apart during the darkest time of their lives and discovers that they will survive as long as they have each other.
For nearly twenty four years, the ATHENS AREA HOMELESS SHELTER (AAHS) has provided supportive services and shelter to homeless families and individuals in the Athens community. Through the Almost Home shelter program, AAHS provides transitional shelter to homeless families with children for up to 24 months. Through the Job TREC and Nancy Travis House programs, homeless individuals are provided supportive services (i.e. transportation, childcare, and counseling) and case management services to facilitate self-sufficiency. These programs are open to families and individuals living in all area shelters and on the streets of Athens and the surrounding counties. Several hundred individuals are served by these programs annually.
SHOWTIMES: 4:30p and 7:00p - THU 3/26
ADMISSION: $8 MATINEE / $10 EVENING - PROCEEDS TO BENEFIT THE AAHS
AAHS BENEFIT SCREENING: WHERE GOD LEFT HIS SHOES - THURSDAY MARCH 26th
The Athens Area Homeless Shelter presents these special screenings of the new feature film, WHERE GOD LEFT HIS SHOES, winner of the Humanitas Prize for Best Feature Film at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival.
When Frank (John Leguizamo), Angela, and their two children are evicted from their New York City apartment, they have no choice but to move into a homeless shelter. After a few difficult months, good news comes their way on Christmas Eve: a nearby housing project has an apartment available immediately-however, Frank needs a job on the books in order to qualify. While the rest of the city prepares for Christmas, Frank and his ten-year-old stepson, Justin, roam the cold streets of New York trying to find a job by day's end. Where God Left His Shoes is the story of a family that refuses to break apart during the darkest time of their lives and discovers that they will survive as long as they have each other.
For nearly twenty four years, the ATHENS AREA HOMELESS SHELTER (AAHS) has provided supportive services and shelter to homeless families and individuals in the Athens community. Through the Almost Home shelter program, AAHS provides transitional shelter to homeless families with children for up to 24 months. Through the Job TREC and Nancy Travis House programs, homeless individuals are provided supportive services (i.e. transportation, childcare, and counseling) and case management services to facilitate self-sufficiency. These programs are open to families and individuals living in all area shelters and on the streets of Athens and the surrounding counties. Several hundred individuals are served by these programs annually.
SHOWTIMES: 4:30p and 7:00p - THU 3/26
ADMISSION: $8 MATINEE / $10 EVENING - PROCEEDS TO BENEFIT THE AAHS
Thurmond interview
An interesting interview by Creative Loafing with Athens resident and current Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond, particularly this passage ...
It’s the workforce. Kevin Costner. Field of Dreams. “If you build it, they will come.” Build a workforce. One of the things we’ve not done, what we don’t recognize, is that in any business, the most important asset you have is your work force. It doesn’t appear on your ledger sheet or profit-or-loss statement. So that whole notion that we followed in the south of “strong binds, weak minds and cheap labor” is no longer a viable option for this state or country. We must in a very fundamental way, invest in this workforce.
We see now the fallacy of pursuing cheap labor in China or Taiwan. That’s not sustainable over a long period of time. Because when Americans lose jobs and can’t support themselves, can’t pay house notes or purchase the goods, that ultimately cripples the economy. Pursuing the cheap labor, now we recognize, is not the most rational strategy from an economic development perspective.
Because you need consumers. Not only are they your laborers, but they’re also your consumers. So when these laborers can’t earn salaries, that reduces their ability to consume. So it’s in my best interest — and your best interest — to make sure the laborer is well paid, if for no other reason, so he or she can consume more.
It’s the workforce. Kevin Costner. Field of Dreams. “If you build it, they will come.” Build a workforce. One of the things we’ve not done, what we don’t recognize, is that in any business, the most important asset you have is your work force. It doesn’t appear on your ledger sheet or profit-or-loss statement. So that whole notion that we followed in the south of “strong binds, weak minds and cheap labor” is no longer a viable option for this state or country. We must in a very fundamental way, invest in this workforce.
We see now the fallacy of pursuing cheap labor in China or Taiwan. That’s not sustainable over a long period of time. Because when Americans lose jobs and can’t support themselves, can’t pay house notes or purchase the goods, that ultimately cripples the economy. Pursuing the cheap labor, now we recognize, is not the most rational strategy from an economic development perspective.
Because you need consumers. Not only are they your laborers, but they’re also your consumers. So when these laborers can’t earn salaries, that reduces their ability to consume. So it’s in my best interest — and your best interest — to make sure the laborer is well paid, if for no other reason, so he or she can consume more.
Couple of things
- Much like the rumors swirling regarding Rep. Paul Broun pondering a run for the U.S. Senate, there's good and bad involved with this.
- I'm not proud to admit it, particularly since I lectured The Wife about our need to cast our ballots on Tuesday, but ... I forgot to vote in the Oconee County SPLOST election. It dawned on me at 7 p.m. last night, so I'm very glad to see that it passed again.
- Funding for the expansion of the Athens-Clarke County Library was removed from a list of prioritized projects by a subcommittee in the Georgia House of Representatives.
- But, Julie Crowe, those parking garages are needed for the employees and visitors to the University of Georgia as well. Plus there already is attractive campus housing, it's just that there's considerable private accommodations that surround them, and until that's addressed, a lot of students are going to flock to live on those environs.
- I'm not proud to admit it, particularly since I lectured The Wife about our need to cast our ballots on Tuesday, but ... I forgot to vote in the Oconee County SPLOST election. It dawned on me at 7 p.m. last night, so I'm very glad to see that it passed again.
- Funding for the expansion of the Athens-Clarke County Library was removed from a list of prioritized projects by a subcommittee in the Georgia House of Representatives.
- But, Julie Crowe, those parking garages are needed for the employees and visitors to the University of Georgia as well. Plus there already is attractive campus housing, it's just that there's considerable private accommodations that surround them, and until that's addressed, a lot of students are going to flock to live on those environs.
Library taken off list
If the Georgia House of Representatives' subcommittee of Appropriations for Higher Education has its way,the much-needed expansion and renovation of the Athens-Clarke County Library won't get any state funds. The subcommittee has removed six projects from its list, and the library was one of those.
In previous years, the project has merely been moved down the priority list, but this is the first time it has been completely removed from the list. The funding for this project will matching already existing local money that has been raised through SPLOST.
The next course of action would be to see the project reinserted during the Senate's review of the bill, and that means making sure that Sen. Bill Cowsert and Sen. Ralph Hudgens know of the local support for the project.
Cowsert can be reached at 404.651.7738, while Hudgens can be tracked down at 404.656.4700.
Copied below is text from an email I received ...
Everyone,
I ask that you take a few minutes and place a call to Senator Cowsert’s office-- number below-- to urge that the Athens Library project be reinstated from the Senate side of the General Assembly. The House subcommittee of Appropriations for Higher Education has removed 6 projects, added several others lower down on the priority list, and Athens is one that was removed. I could say a few expletives about certain representatives and retribution for the blue parts of the state, but I won’t. The Appropriations Committee is scheduled to vote tomorrow morning at 8AM and it will go to the full house soon thereafter. We need to work through the Senate to get it back into the budget.
This is an important issue and your participation may be critical. Make the call. You must give your name and phone number, but you don’t need to identify yourselves as library staff members. Just state the issue—we want the Athens library project funded in the FY10 budget. It is your future too! Thanks!
(I have to add, in a full disclosure notice, that I'm not overtly enthusiastic about lobbying for this project. It needs to be done, and we need to take advantage of the SPLOST money since it's designated for this purpose, but, given the existing budget crisis, I'm just not moved either way toward it.)
In previous years, the project has merely been moved down the priority list, but this is the first time it has been completely removed from the list. The funding for this project will matching already existing local money that has been raised through SPLOST.
The next course of action would be to see the project reinserted during the Senate's review of the bill, and that means making sure that Sen. Bill Cowsert and Sen. Ralph Hudgens know of the local support for the project.
Cowsert can be reached at 404.651.7738, while Hudgens can be tracked down at 404.656.4700.
Copied below is text from an email I received ...
Everyone,
I ask that you take a few minutes and place a call to Senator Cowsert’s office-- number below-- to urge that the Athens Library project be reinstated from the Senate side of the General Assembly. The House subcommittee of Appropriations for Higher Education has removed 6 projects, added several others lower down on the priority list, and Athens is one that was removed. I could say a few expletives about certain representatives and retribution for the blue parts of the state, but I won’t. The Appropriations Committee is scheduled to vote tomorrow morning at 8AM and it will go to the full house soon thereafter. We need to work through the Senate to get it back into the budget.
This is an important issue and your participation may be critical. Make the call. You must give your name and phone number, but you don’t need to identify yourselves as library staff members. Just state the issue—we want the Athens library project funded in the FY10 budget. It is your future too! Thanks!
(I have to add, in a full disclosure notice, that I'm not overtly enthusiastic about lobbying for this project. It needs to be done, and we need to take advantage of the SPLOST money since it's designated for this purpose, but, given the existing budget crisis, I'm just not moved either way toward it.)
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
The Oconee BOE fiasco
A hearty well done to the citizens who showed up to express their justifiable anger with the Oconee County Board of Education, particularly the teachers who are seeing their resources dried up while the BOE was lobbying the state government for a pay raise.
And Teresa Davis deserves the most praise ...
Teresa Davis, PTO president at Oconee County Elementary School, gave the most stinging rebuke of the night.
The board has tried to justify recent bad decisions by "sweeping them under the rug" or justifying them with "some lame excuse," Davis said.
The board could pay for three part-time teaching assistants with the $26,000 the raise would cost, she said. "Do you know how many supplies that would put in our children's hands?"
The point that I've been trying to make all along is that this is the latest poor decision in a string of fundamentally poor decisions for the Oconee County school system.
First you had the BOE agreeing to extend the contract of Tom Dorhmann before, just a week or so later, re-approaching him and forcing him to resign. However, since he couldn't earn full benefits from retirement for another year, they secretly kept him on the payroll and hired an interim superintendent ... all the while cutting money from the budget to make up for a $300,000 shortfall, yet $100,000-plus was walking out the door to someone who was being paid to do absolutely nothing ... and he was doing absolutely nothing because you made him do absolutely nothing.
Just a month or so later, Brian Dickens is accused of physically, mentally and emotionally abusing his girlfriend, who just happened to be a former player of his with that relationship beginning when she was a minor and under his instruction at Oconee County High School. The appropriate law enforcement authorities notified the BOE and local school officials, and the response was ... do nothing. Instead, Dickens was allowed to coach the team to a state championship - because winning apparently is everything - and then, just a day after hoisting the trophy, was suspended from the school.
And now this ... angling to raise your own pay by five times its current amount in the middle of an economic crisis and when you're cutting back on other personnel positions in the county.
These things are connected. They are part of a larger pattern if self-serving, poor judgement, and that's why it's important to keep this botched pay raise proposal in the appropriate context.
And Teresa Davis deserves the most praise ...
Teresa Davis, PTO president at Oconee County Elementary School, gave the most stinging rebuke of the night.
The board has tried to justify recent bad decisions by "sweeping them under the rug" or justifying them with "some lame excuse," Davis said.
The board could pay for three part-time teaching assistants with the $26,000 the raise would cost, she said. "Do you know how many supplies that would put in our children's hands?"
The point that I've been trying to make all along is that this is the latest poor decision in a string of fundamentally poor decisions for the Oconee County school system.
First you had the BOE agreeing to extend the contract of Tom Dorhmann before, just a week or so later, re-approaching him and forcing him to resign. However, since he couldn't earn full benefits from retirement for another year, they secretly kept him on the payroll and hired an interim superintendent ... all the while cutting money from the budget to make up for a $300,000 shortfall, yet $100,000-plus was walking out the door to someone who was being paid to do absolutely nothing ... and he was doing absolutely nothing because you made him do absolutely nothing.
Just a month or so later, Brian Dickens is accused of physically, mentally and emotionally abusing his girlfriend, who just happened to be a former player of his with that relationship beginning when she was a minor and under his instruction at Oconee County High School. The appropriate law enforcement authorities notified the BOE and local school officials, and the response was ... do nothing. Instead, Dickens was allowed to coach the team to a state championship - because winning apparently is everything - and then, just a day after hoisting the trophy, was suspended from the school.
And now this ... angling to raise your own pay by five times its current amount in the middle of an economic crisis and when you're cutting back on other personnel positions in the county.
These things are connected. They are part of a larger pattern if self-serving, poor judgement, and that's why it's important to keep this botched pay raise proposal in the appropriate context.
Couple of things
- Um, what planet is Bill Norris living on where liberals exclusively 'talk incessently so as to talk over the opponent' ... I mean, I'm assuming he's actually listened to Rush Limbaugh since he's so eager to defend the man. The point is that poor debaters talk over folks and change the subject, and that's something which weaves its way through all ideological circles (though there does appear to be a high concentration of them at Fox News.
- And I'm glad Barbara Stewart wrote this letter seeing how Jerry Haas's column, like most of his works, was tragically ill-informed and deliberately misleading.
- I had heard plans were afoot to incorporate a gas station into the vision for the proposed park-and-ride lot, and it's good to see progress being made on that front. The whole proposal was frustrating for a variety of reasons ranging from the difficulties in finding a suitable location to former Rep. Max Burns literally forcing the project on the community in the place of other ones that were more desirable. Still, this is an example of doing the best you can to make it a positive thing in the long-run (largely because it will be a good developmenet, just insanely too close to downtown and the University of Georgia campus to generate much interest).
- Well, these darn things caught me a few weeks ago zipping through a red light on Atlanta Highway, so I suppose they're working.
- And I'm glad Barbara Stewart wrote this letter seeing how Jerry Haas's column, like most of his works, was tragically ill-informed and deliberately misleading.
- I had heard plans were afoot to incorporate a gas station into the vision for the proposed park-and-ride lot, and it's good to see progress being made on that front. The whole proposal was frustrating for a variety of reasons ranging from the difficulties in finding a suitable location to former Rep. Max Burns literally forcing the project on the community in the place of other ones that were more desirable. Still, this is an example of doing the best you can to make it a positive thing in the long-run (largely because it will be a good developmenet, just insanely too close to downtown and the University of Georgia campus to generate much interest).
- Well, these darn things caught me a few weeks ago zipping through a red light on Atlanta Highway, so I suppose they're working.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Another thing ...
Following up a little bit on the Oconee County Board of Education - largely because I think this story is an indication of how this afternoon's meeting is going to go - David Weeks has repeatedly argued that it's not about the money, resulting in today's Athens Banner-Herald editorial responding with 'we're not buying it.'
Weeks worked to clarify his statements to The Oconee Enterprise ...
Weeks said when he first started on the board he donated his salary to the school system. That is, until the state told him he could no longer do so because of an “accounting irregularity.”
“It’s really not about money,” Weeks said. “I used to give it back to the school system until the state said I couldn’t.”
While I've got some questions about these 'accounting irregularities' that prevent him from making a donation, I also wonder if he's thought to write a check to the Education Foundation of Oconee County.
Regardless, that's not the point.
If it's not about the money and said money can't be given back to the school system ... then why are you asking for the pay raise? Because if you can't give the money back to the school system, that means you get to keep the money meaning it's about the money.
And, listen, there's a legitimate case to be made that it should be about the money. The problem is the existing fiscal crisis, the budgetary cuts facing the school district and the lack of transparency in the process.
Weeks worked to clarify his statements to The Oconee Enterprise ...
Weeks said when he first started on the board he donated his salary to the school system. That is, until the state told him he could no longer do so because of an “accounting irregularity.”
“It’s really not about money,” Weeks said. “I used to give it back to the school system until the state said I couldn’t.”
While I've got some questions about these 'accounting irregularities' that prevent him from making a donation, I also wonder if he's thought to write a check to the Education Foundation of Oconee County.
Regardless, that's not the point.
If it's not about the money and said money can't be given back to the school system ... then why are you asking for the pay raise? Because if you can't give the money back to the school system, that means you get to keep the money meaning it's about the money.
And, listen, there's a legitimate case to be made that it should be about the money. The problem is the existing fiscal crisis, the budgetary cuts facing the school district and the lack of transparency in the process.
The right direction
It's a step in the right direction, so 'yay' for that.
Still, it couldn't resist taking a swipe at the Clarke County school system - because, you know, why not - and it even attempts to rationalize the attempts of the Oconee County Board of Education to increase its pay by five times its current amount.
Plus, I think the context of the pay raise being offered on the heels of a pair of embarassing instances of mismanagement in the superintendent fiasco and Brian Dickens situation is essential to understanding why, exactly, this was such an awful endeavor.
And I don't get the Forsyth County metric. Again, Columbia County would appear to be a better model since it's a county that, roughly 10 to 15 years ago, resembled Oconee County today ... and it features BOE salaries that are parallel to what David Weeks wanted. What makes it a more appropriate comparison, in my book, is evaluating those parallel salaries with the size of the school system, thus showing how completely out of whack the Oconee County proposal was.
All that said, it was a positive step in the right direction and brought the appropriate criticism toward a poor decision made by four members of the Oconee County BOE. The public forum is this afternoon, and I'm hoping I can get to it for a little bit before heading off to a church meeting.
Still, it couldn't resist taking a swipe at the Clarke County school system - because, you know, why not - and it even attempts to rationalize the attempts of the Oconee County Board of Education to increase its pay by five times its current amount.
Plus, I think the context of the pay raise being offered on the heels of a pair of embarassing instances of mismanagement in the superintendent fiasco and Brian Dickens situation is essential to understanding why, exactly, this was such an awful endeavor.
And I don't get the Forsyth County metric. Again, Columbia County would appear to be a better model since it's a county that, roughly 10 to 15 years ago, resembled Oconee County today ... and it features BOE salaries that are parallel to what David Weeks wanted. What makes it a more appropriate comparison, in my book, is evaluating those parallel salaries with the size of the school system, thus showing how completely out of whack the Oconee County proposal was.
All that said, it was a positive step in the right direction and brought the appropriate criticism toward a poor decision made by four members of the Oconee County BOE. The public forum is this afternoon, and I'm hoping I can get to it for a little bit before heading off to a church meeting.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
It's not a time for knee-jerk
Here's one central problem to the struggles regarding economic development of Athens-Clarke County, and it seems to be a mighty big one.
But when the people you've entrusted to promote, develop and recruit business to your community willfully ignore evidence - statistical and antedoctal - suggesting some of the root causes of your problem, you're not going to get anywhere.
Granted, there are numerous challenges facing the community's efforts and Virginia 'Jinx' Patel is right in bringing attention to recent moves to bolster job training opportunities, but the argument is couched in a defensive position coming from an organization that, quite frankly, has largely failed in its central task of fostering meaningful economic development avenues. Few businesses which can provide large employment opportunities are interested in Athens-Clarke County, and those that are repeatedly cite the ill-equipped workforce in the community as a primary reason for locating elsewhere.
There's a valid discussion to be had about whether or not Athens-Clarke County should place such an emphasis on the bio-sciences or whether or not attracting large employers is a viable strategy in this day and age. What shouldn't be up for debate is the fact that time and time again, employers and recruiters have shied away from the community because of the workforce issue.
But when the people you've entrusted to promote, develop and recruit business to your community willfully ignore evidence - statistical and antedoctal - suggesting some of the root causes of your problem, you're not going to get anywhere.
Granted, there are numerous challenges facing the community's efforts and Virginia 'Jinx' Patel is right in bringing attention to recent moves to bolster job training opportunities, but the argument is couched in a defensive position coming from an organization that, quite frankly, has largely failed in its central task of fostering meaningful economic development avenues. Few businesses which can provide large employment opportunities are interested in Athens-Clarke County, and those that are repeatedly cite the ill-equipped workforce in the community as a primary reason for locating elsewhere.
There's a valid discussion to be had about whether or not Athens-Clarke County should place such an emphasis on the bio-sciences or whether or not attracting large employers is a viable strategy in this day and age. What shouldn't be up for debate is the fact that time and time again, employers and recruiters have shied away from the community because of the workforce issue.
It's your show man, but ...
I absolutely love the guy, but J.T.'s flat-out fallen off the wagon.
This obsession with ridiculously over-scrutinizing the affairs of Congress (um, now, mind you ... not first six years of the Bush Administration) at the expense of appropriate analysis of local affairs is mind-boggling to me.
This obsession with ridiculously over-scrutinizing the affairs of Congress (um, now, mind you ... not first six years of the Bush Administration) at the expense of appropriate analysis of local affairs is mind-boggling to me.
This is relevant why exactly?
Correct me if I'm wrong, but Carl Jordan doesn't actually have a vote on the Athens-Clarke County Commission anymore, does he ...
One major difference between the two versions is that Jordan wants businesses to turn off most lights, except those needed for security, after 11 p.m. or an hour after they close. Planning commissioners took out the curfew because they said it would force code enforcement officers to work late or police to enforce it.
... Jordan said he wants to delay a vote on the ordinance so commissioners can work on it more, but (Athens-Clarke County District Nine Commissioner Kelly) Girtz said he wants to make the changes now and stick to the scheduled April 6 vote.
"We could play ping-pong with this all year," he said. "I'd rather get it on the commission floor."
I mean, again, perhaps I missed some dramatic revision of the charter in recent weeks, but, seeing how he isn't exactly on the commission anymore, Jordan can't delay a vote on the ordinance. Just trying to understand why we should have a whole lot of handwringing over this whole thing.
One major difference between the two versions is that Jordan wants businesses to turn off most lights, except those needed for security, after 11 p.m. or an hour after they close. Planning commissioners took out the curfew because they said it would force code enforcement officers to work late or police to enforce it.
... Jordan said he wants to delay a vote on the ordinance so commissioners can work on it more, but (Athens-Clarke County District Nine Commissioner Kelly) Girtz said he wants to make the changes now and stick to the scheduled April 6 vote.
"We could play ping-pong with this all year," he said. "I'd rather get it on the commission floor."
I mean, again, perhaps I missed some dramatic revision of the charter in recent weeks, but, seeing how he isn't exactly on the commission anymore, Jordan can't delay a vote on the ordinance. Just trying to understand why we should have a whole lot of handwringing over this whole thing.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Awesome
I completely missed this the first time around ...
The Athens Banner-Herald’s Adam Thompson reports that the public vote, which was 4-1 in favor of more taxpayer money in their pockets, was held “at Smith’s urging.” However, Peach Pundit has learned that the public vote was not taken at Smith’s specific urging, but as a last-ditch effort to convince the Representative to carry legislation he had repeatedly advised board members against proposing.
Awesome. Again, if David Weeks is arguing it's 'not about the money' then why in the world is the Oconee County Board of Education literally begging Rep. Bob Smith to let them take more money from local taxpayers during a rather dismal economy?
It's probably a bit harsh, but coming on the heels of the fiasco involving Tom Dohrmann and then the stunning lack of attention paid to the Brian Dickens affair, why shouldn't these folks be recalled?
The Athens Banner-Herald’s Adam Thompson reports that the public vote, which was 4-1 in favor of more taxpayer money in their pockets, was held “at Smith’s urging.” However, Peach Pundit has learned that the public vote was not taken at Smith’s specific urging, but as a last-ditch effort to convince the Representative to carry legislation he had repeatedly advised board members against proposing.
Awesome. Again, if David Weeks is arguing it's 'not about the money' then why in the world is the Oconee County Board of Education literally begging Rep. Bob Smith to let them take more money from local taxpayers during a rather dismal economy?
It's probably a bit harsh, but coming on the heels of the fiasco involving Tom Dohrmann and then the stunning lack of attention paid to the Brian Dickens affair, why shouldn't these folks be recalled?
The crushing blow of reality
The Oconee County Board of Education has lost Peach Pundit.
While I do think he's a nice guy, it's not often I agree with Jeff Emanuel ... safe to say, we're on the same page here.
While I do think he's a nice guy, it's not often I agree with Jeff Emanuel ... safe to say, we're on the same page here.
Waste Reduction Award nominations
Athens-Clarke County is accepting nominees for its annual Waste Reduction Awards. See the release below ...
Have you, your business or your school implemented an award winning recycling or reduction practice? Brag about it! The ACC Recycling Division is now accepting application for our annual Waste Reduction Awards.
Awards will be given in four categories including individual, business, industry and school. Winners will be given a plaque and certificate along with print recognition on the GreenFest website and in the summer edition of One Man’s Trash, distributed through the Athens-Banner Herald.
Winners will be notified in early April, and will be publicly recognized at the GreenFest Award Ceremony on Friday, April 17th at Terrapin Brewery. Prizes will be awarded at the ceremony.
All entries must be submitted to the ACC Recycling Division, P.O. Box 1868, Athens, Georgia 30603 by Friday, March 16. The entry form can be found at www.acc-recycle.org/events.htm.
Please visit www.athensgreenfest.org for more information about GreenFest.
Have you, your business or your school implemented an award winning recycling or reduction practice? Brag about it! The ACC Recycling Division is now accepting application for our annual Waste Reduction Awards.
Awards will be given in four categories including individual, business, industry and school. Winners will be given a plaque and certificate along with print recognition on the GreenFest website and in the summer edition of One Man’s Trash, distributed through the Athens-Banner Herald.
Winners will be notified in early April, and will be publicly recognized at the GreenFest Award Ceremony on Friday, April 17th at Terrapin Brewery. Prizes will be awarded at the ceremony.
All entries must be submitted to the ACC Recycling Division, P.O. Box 1868, Athens, Georgia 30603 by Friday, March 16. The entry form can be found at www.acc-recycle.org/events.htm.
Please visit www.athensgreenfest.org for more information about GreenFest.
Difficult to watch
More information from David Weeks in this morning's article from the Athens Banner-Herald, and he's accusing Rep. Bob Smith of throwing the Oconee County Board of Education under the bus. While I'm shocked - shocked I tell you - that Smith would think of his own interests over the well-being of his constituents, he's actually right in this case.
Weeks wanted to do this thing without a public hearing ... and got killed for that. Weeks wanted to raise the pay for board members more than five times their current amount ... and got killed for that. Weeks wanted to do so in the middle of a recession where paraprofessionals are being cut and part-time positions eliminated in the school system ... and got killed for that.
Coming off the heels of the fiasco regarding the previous superintendent and the whole sordid Brian Dickens affair, the Oconee County BOE is becoming almost as much of a train wreck to watch as Clarke County's.
Related ... this is what the ABH editorial board wants to write about? This is the pay raise discussion they wish to start? Not the one that, you know, actually impacts the local community. I'm not sure who called the shots on this one, but coupled with the awful 'Rep. Paul Broun's nonsensical tax break idea is cool' editorial that got penned a few weeks back, I'm starting to cast some doubts on the material selection.
(As an aside, it's silly to talk about congressional approval ratings apart from the fact that they're traditionally between 35 and 50 percent, are at the highest level in roughly a decade and the public's support is for Democrats, not Republicans.)
Weeks wanted to do this thing without a public hearing ... and got killed for that. Weeks wanted to raise the pay for board members more than five times their current amount ... and got killed for that. Weeks wanted to do so in the middle of a recession where paraprofessionals are being cut and part-time positions eliminated in the school system ... and got killed for that.
Coming off the heels of the fiasco regarding the previous superintendent and the whole sordid Brian Dickens affair, the Oconee County BOE is becoming almost as much of a train wreck to watch as Clarke County's.
Related ... this is what the ABH editorial board wants to write about? This is the pay raise discussion they wish to start? Not the one that, you know, actually impacts the local community. I'm not sure who called the shots on this one, but coupled with the awful 'Rep. Paul Broun's nonsensical tax break idea is cool' editorial that got penned a few weeks back, I'm starting to cast some doubts on the material selection.
(As an aside, it's silly to talk about congressional approval ratings apart from the fact that they're traditionally between 35 and 50 percent, are at the highest level in roughly a decade and the public's support is for Democrats, not Republicans.)
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Oconee BOE raise is dead
Via the Athens Banner-Herald, Rep. Bob Smith exercises some rational thought as he opts to not put forward the pay raise for the Oconee County Board of Education.
The Oconee County BOE has tended to completely avoid common sense thinking in pursuing its decisions, and, seeing how I count him as a friend, it's painful to watch just how awful David Weeks's tenure at the helm of that group has been to date. This is the latest misstep, and it's approaching comical Michael-Steele-levels of embarassment in recent weeks.
The fact that Weeks was just on the radio defending the proposal is maddening.
The Oconee County BOE has tended to completely avoid common sense thinking in pursuing its decisions, and, seeing how I count him as a friend, it's painful to watch just how awful David Weeks's tenure at the helm of that group has been to date. This is the latest misstep, and it's approaching comical Michael-Steele-levels of embarassment in recent weeks.
The fact that Weeks was just on the radio defending the proposal is maddening.
The problems of partnership
The second item of this week's City Pages deals with the proposed economic development coalition between Athens-Clarke County and Oconee County. While readers who have followed me through my previous blogs know that I'm a big proponent of this initiative, my faith in the advancement of the project isn't as deep.
And it's not because of anything Athens-Clarke County has or has not done, though that's where much of the focus has been since some commissioners expressed concern over the community's financial obligations compared to representation in the long-term. The commission, it must be noted, ultimately approved the partnership and is waiting for Oconee County to take action.
It seems, however, that they may be waiting for some time.
Oconee County Commission Chairman Melvin Davis manages the agenda out here, and he doesn't seem to have any desire in moving forward with the partnership, despite the support for it by many in the business community ...
But Davis recently said he didn't think the matter would come to a vote any time in the near future and indicated his support for the program may have waned.
"I do think from a regional standpoint we may be very effective," he said. "But there's also issues, I think, that each county has to look at. We're so different from Athens-Clarke in a lot of ways. The funds that we have available -- we don't have a motel-hotel tax that we can fund this with. ... (We have a lot of) budget constraints; that's one of the concerns of this."
A variety of comments directed my way from a variety of connected individuals in Oconee County have suggested that Davis is less concerned with the financial responsibilities of such a venture, but rather is worried that a partnership with Athens-Clarke County might be too difficult to achieve. One colleague of mine suggested the differences between the two communities - ideological, philosophical, etc. - were simply too great for them to work together effectively.
To me, that might be the greatest challenge in making this thing work. Both communities have different standards for zoning, appropriate development, environmental guidelines, effective transportation solutions, etc. and etc. Finding a way to attract a major employer to this area in a way that satisfies both counties promises to be difficult.
Another individual suggested that there is little incentive for Oconee County to enter into the partnership. The county is experiencing steady, solid growth and may not want to be associated with a community that has - rightly or wrongly, truthfully or falsely - a perception of being less accommodating to businesses. In other words, according to this individual, why should Oconee County hitch its wagon to a community that is stagnant rather than growing.
While I think there is truth and fiction with regard to those perceptions, it's important to recognize that perceptions do exist. And the defeat of this proposed partnership would be damaging to any effort for Athens-Clarke County to overcome it (and by competing rather than sharing, would seem to be directly against the notion of developing such a partnership).
The potential is great. Athens-Clarke County has a vast amount of resources that, quite frankly, Oconee County won't be able to effectively generate on its own. Here's hoping Davis adheres to the recommendation of task force that worked on this proposal and moves forward with a vote.
And it's not because of anything Athens-Clarke County has or has not done, though that's where much of the focus has been since some commissioners expressed concern over the community's financial obligations compared to representation in the long-term. The commission, it must be noted, ultimately approved the partnership and is waiting for Oconee County to take action.
It seems, however, that they may be waiting for some time.
Oconee County Commission Chairman Melvin Davis manages the agenda out here, and he doesn't seem to have any desire in moving forward with the partnership, despite the support for it by many in the business community ...
But Davis recently said he didn't think the matter would come to a vote any time in the near future and indicated his support for the program may have waned.
"I do think from a regional standpoint we may be very effective," he said. "But there's also issues, I think, that each county has to look at. We're so different from Athens-Clarke in a lot of ways. The funds that we have available -- we don't have a motel-hotel tax that we can fund this with. ... (We have a lot of) budget constraints; that's one of the concerns of this."
A variety of comments directed my way from a variety of connected individuals in Oconee County have suggested that Davis is less concerned with the financial responsibilities of such a venture, but rather is worried that a partnership with Athens-Clarke County might be too difficult to achieve. One colleague of mine suggested the differences between the two communities - ideological, philosophical, etc. - were simply too great for them to work together effectively.
To me, that might be the greatest challenge in making this thing work. Both communities have different standards for zoning, appropriate development, environmental guidelines, effective transportation solutions, etc. and etc. Finding a way to attract a major employer to this area in a way that satisfies both counties promises to be difficult.
Another individual suggested that there is little incentive for Oconee County to enter into the partnership. The county is experiencing steady, solid growth and may not want to be associated with a community that has - rightly or wrongly, truthfully or falsely - a perception of being less accommodating to businesses. In other words, according to this individual, why should Oconee County hitch its wagon to a community that is stagnant rather than growing.
While I think there is truth and fiction with regard to those perceptions, it's important to recognize that perceptions do exist. And the defeat of this proposed partnership would be damaging to any effort for Athens-Clarke County to overcome it (and by competing rather than sharing, would seem to be directly against the notion of developing such a partnership).
The potential is great. Athens-Clarke County has a vast amount of resources that, quite frankly, Oconee County won't be able to effectively generate on its own. Here's hoping Davis adheres to the recommendation of task force that worked on this proposal and moves forward with a vote.
Welcome (back)
As everyone knows, I run the Safe As Houses blog that is now located at Tondee's Tavern. I started SaH in 2004, largely because I missed writing and wanted to keep doing it. I didn't really know what a blog was or why people did it, but it only took a few posts to get drawn in.
The strength of SaH, I felt, was its focus on news and commentary affecting Athens-Clarke County and Oconee County. And, when I moved over to Tondee's Tavern earlier this year, I think that content suffered the most (and, it should be noted, where I received the most comments). As a result, that local focus is returning with Beyond The Trestle, thus enabling me to safely split the local coverage of this area from the larger progressive commentary I aim to provide at Tondee's Tavern.
So imagine this venture as a return to the old Safe As Houses, with even more focus on local issues in these communities.
The strength of SaH, I felt, was its focus on news and commentary affecting Athens-Clarke County and Oconee County. And, when I moved over to Tondee's Tavern earlier this year, I think that content suffered the most (and, it should be noted, where I received the most comments). As a result, that local focus is returning with Beyond The Trestle, thus enabling me to safely split the local coverage of this area from the larger progressive commentary I aim to provide at Tondee's Tavern.
So imagine this venture as a return to the old Safe As Houses, with even more focus on local issues in these communities.
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