Sunday, May 19, 2013
The live coverage is over, but replay the live blog to see what all the hype was about.
President Barack Obama gave the 129th commencement address speech on a wet and rainy Sunday afternoon, May 19th, at Morehouse College. Obama began his remarks to an excited yet wet crowd,most of whom had been seated as early as 6 am. at approximately 11:30 am. The sky opened just before the speech began, and the crowd was treated to a steady downpour throughout. Obama quipped that, “I would be out there with you, but the Secret Service gets nervous.” Obama was greeted with a big cheer when he emerged from a building adjacent to the stage with Morehouse College president John Silvanus Wilson, a former White House aide. The invocation was given by Rev. Raphael Warnock of Ebenezer Baptist Church, Martin Luther King, Jr.’s famous church. …
Friday, May 10, 2013
The measure favored by council member Alex Wan still might be approved by the Atlanta City Council. The ordinance would force some adult businesses to move from Cheshire Bridge Road.
An ordinance that would force many adult businesses to move from Cheshire Bridge Road was voted down Thursday by the Atlanta Zoning Review Board. But the measure isn't dead. The City Council's zoning committee will discuss the legislation May 29 and the full Atlanta City Council might vote to approve it June 3, the GA Voice website reported. The city imposed zoning years ago that stopped new adult businesses from coming to Cheshire Brige. Exisiting adult businesses stayed thanks to a grandfather clause, but council member Alex Wan wants to lift that protection. If it is approved, the businesses would have to move in five years. The GA Voice reported, The controversial legislation has pitted some LGBT activists against openly gay Wan …
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Bruce McGregor, past president of the Druid Hills Civic Association, spoke at Monday night's legislative town hall meeting.
At a meeting that seemed to be designed to slow the on-rushing train of cityhood, Democrats in DeKalb’s legislative delegation urged residents to consider a variety of issues before deciding to incorporate. “You all have gotten our attention in a very substantial way; we hear you,” said state Sen. Jason Carter (D-42) told the several hundred people in attendance. “I’m not sold on the idea of creating new cities, but the fact that we have so many people here tonight is a good sign.” The meeting was held this past Monday at Clairmont Hills Baptist Church, and was hosted by state Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver (D-Decatur). Oliver has been an outspoken opponent of the way that cities are created in Georgia, most recently during the debate over …
Monday, May 6, 2013
Members of the county legislative delegation invite the public to Clairmont Hills Baptist Church at 6:30 p.m. Monday.
Members of DeKalb County's legislative delegation will hold a town hall meeting on growing cityhood efforts countywide Monday night. The meeting will be held at Clairmont Hills Baptist Church from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., according to state Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver (D-Decatur), who sent an email to supporters. The meeting will cover the process of creating new cities, associated tax implications and alternatives to cityhood, Oliver said. As it stands, bills have been filed to potentially support new cities in Tucker, the Lakeside High School area, the Druid Hills-Briarcliff area and Stonecrest. In her email, Oliver listed all the related bills filed this year: HB 22---Primary Sponsor Mary Margaret Oliver. HB 22 sets out additional …
Monday, April 29, 2013
In case you ride MARTA, read about their new security protocols.
Our friends at MARTA have just sent Cascade Patch a press release about the security changes that they are implementing after the deadly Boston Marathon bombings. According to the written statement by Cara Hodgson, MARTA is "heightening security on the transit system." Hodgson says that there are no imminent threats towards the transit system or its riders, but that they want to be proactive and take this opportunity to be even safer. MARTA is taking the following proactive measures: The MARTA Police Department (MPD) is working directly with federal, state and local agencies, including the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority (MBTA) and the Transit Security Administration (TSA) in Washington, D. C. to stay updated on any recommendations …
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
The Atlanta Police Department main zone precincts will accept unwanted, unused or expired prescription drugs between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. April 27.
The Atlanta Police Department is participating in the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) National Drug Take-Back Day on Saturday, April 27, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Virginia-Highland and Druid Hills citizens can turn in unwanted, unused or expired prescription drugs for safe disposal. Learn more about the National Drug Take-Back Day. On April 27, the APD Main Zone Precincts will collect these drugs from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Zone 5 will accept the drugs at their CID Precinct at 398 Centennial Olympic park Drive. Look up your zone here.
Thursday, April 11, 2013
Observers say the issue of allowing guns on college campuses is likely to resurface. What do you think of the idea?
Georgia Senator Frank Ginn (R-Danielsville) introduced Senate Bill 101 this past legislative session, which would have allowed guns on university campuses. On Tuesday, during an Athens-area legislative delegation meeting with the ACC Commission and mayor of Athens, Ginn asked them if they had an opinion about the bill that failed to pass. How did they feel about having guns on campus? "For me, it's a volatile issue," Ginn said. "Between now and the next session, y'all maybe put that on the agenda for discussion." Commissioner Jerry NeSmith said that he supports the Second Amendment and that he himself has owned guns. He said he would prefer that Ginn work on the issues the Commission told the delegation are important for Athens. "Gun …
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Phase 1 will add 12.5 acres of green space to the park.
The planned Piedmont Park expansion has begun. The work is part of the Piedmont Park Conservancy's ongoing plan to incorporate the master plan for the signature greenspace. The construction work continues Phase 1 of the expansion and will bring an additional 12.5 acres of green space in the are of the park that's closest to where the park hits Piedmont Avenue, as well as Monroe Drive. It will add nearly 100 trees, a mulch path in the Walker Woods section and foot bridges along the Clear and Orme Creeks, Atlanta City Councilman Alex Wan, whose district includes Midtown, said in an update to constituents. The development plans also includes adding three pedestriam entrances to the park. The work is expected to be complete in June, Wan said.
Monday, April 8, 2013
The Dunwoody state senator said other cityhood bills in DeKalb County will likely fall to the wayside.
The only bill out of DeKalb County with any chance of moving toward the creation of a new municipality is the Lakeside City Alliance's bill, state Sen. Fran Millar said last week. The Dunwoody legislator told Reporter Newspapers that bills that have led to new cities in the metro Atlanta area over the last several years have been mostly Republican-led, and the alliance's bill is likely to be the only serious cityhood contender. From the Reporter Newspapers story published Friday: Millar, who sponsored the Lakeside bill, said he doesn’t expect any serious cityhood efforts will come out of the flurry of last-minute placeholder bills. “Do I think some of these bills are going to be going anywhere? Absolutely not,” Millar said. “I think the …
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Yet another placeholder bill is filed for a proposed municipality in unincorporated DeKalb County.
Decatur state Sen. Jason Carter filed a bill in the legislature Thursday that would set up a proposed City of Lavista Hills. The 45-page "placeholder" bill lays out the city's structure in detail except for its boundaries. (A small part of the proposed city would need to be part of Carter's district, however.) Much of the bill seems to mirror another "placeholder" cityhood bill filed by Dunwoody state Sen. Fran Millar on behalf of the Lakeside City Alliance last month. It is not clear how Carter's bill would conflict or coordinate with other cityhood bills in the area, including one from Decatur state Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver that would include the Druid Hills and Briarcliff areas. Catch up on cityhood news: Oliver Files Cityhood Bill for…
JamesMichael
8:12 pm on Sunday, May 19, 2013
@Eddie E. Clearing brush in Crawford, TX is a really nifty way to ignore clear and compelling warnings of AQ terrorist attacks. It is also a heck of a lot more fun than attending to cities devastated by hurricanes. Heck... Clearing brush gives one the time to concoct phony reasons for invading foreign countries, for forging yellowcake documents to justify invasion, for planning torture centers, … more ›