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Tuesday, May 21, 2013

DeKalb Wants Resident Input on Zoning Code Update

Comments can be made online.

DeKalb county wants to know residents' thoughts about the zoning code update. The update "is to implement the policies of the DeKalb County 2015 Comprehensive Plan. Its goal is to create a user-friendly document and to balance greater design standards," the DeKalb County Planning and Sustainability website states.  According to the Medlock Area Neighborhood Association, the DeKalb Board of Commissioners will vote on the update on May 28, and it goes into effect  August 2013. Commissioners Jeff Rader, Elaine Boyer and Kathie Gannon represent portions of Chamblee Dunwoody, Brookhaven, Decatur and north Atlanta. There is plenty to review about the update on the site, from public drafts to proposed districts and more. You can leave a comment …

Monday, May 20, 2013

Soundoff! City Council President To Host Twitter Chat On ATL Crime

On Monday, May 20 from 5 – 6 p.m.

(The following is an announcement submitted by the office of Atlanta City Council) Major crime in Atlanta is down 18 percent since 2010. However, the recent rash of petty thefts, including iPhone thefts or "Apple picking", has created the perception that crime is worse than ever. On Monday, May 20from 5 – 6 p.m., Atlanta City Council President Ceasar Mitchell will host his first “Twitter Chat” to hear the public’s opinions and ideas on how best to combat crime in the city.  Monday’s chat is an invitation from the Council President for anyone on Twitter to participate in an open exchange about crime in Atlanta and to share ideas on solutions to continue the decline. Questions addressed during the Twitter Chat will be selected both in …

Sunday, May 19, 2013

Patch Politics

Obama Rocks Morehouse in the Rain

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. …

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JamesMichael

9:50 am on Tuesday, May 21, 2013

What a trite, sniveling, snarky little comment.   more ›

Friday, May 10, 2013

Board Rejects Cheshire Bridge Zoning Change

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

Druid Hills Represented at DeKalb Cityhood Meeting

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

DeKalb Delegation to Discuss Cityhood Monday Night

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

MARTA Taking Proactive Security Measures in Response to Boston Explosions

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 …

James

6:21 pm on Thursday, May 16, 2013

I have been very vigilant and stopped riding Marta altogether.   more ›

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Drug Take-Back Day Is April 27

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

Guns on Campus? Three Athens Area Officials Say No

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 …

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EJ

9:59 am on Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Ah yes, the evil gun show, where according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics (1) , a whopping .7% of convicts purchased their weapons. The awful gun show that an overwhelming 5% of metropolitan police departments (2) consider a problem. Those insidious gun shows that the FBI concluded (3) were the source of an insanely high 0% of firearms used to kill law enforcement officers. You know, the …   more ›

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Piedmont Park Begins Expansion Project

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.

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