George Rhynes
posted the appended on his blog
the same day he
spoke on the same subjects
at the Valdosta City Council, 10 February 2011.
Excerpts from his blog post: Continue reading
Ride your bicycle, have to show a drivers’ license, get your camera stolen
by police?
Not in Atlanta any longer!
Bill Rankin writes some good news in the AJC, APD won’t hinder citizens who videotape cops,
Faced with complaints from a citizen watchdog group, Atlanta police will stop interfering with people who videotape officers performing their duties in public, an agreement reached with the city Thursday says.That’s Copwatch of East Atlanta; here’s their press release, including video of the incident. Continue readingThe settlement, which also calls for the city to pay $40,000 in damages, requires city council approval.
The agreement resolves a complaint filed by Marlon Kautz and Copwatch of East Atlanta, a group that films police activity with cell phones and hand-held cameras. The group has volunteers who go out on patrols and begin videotaping police activity when they come across it.
Danny Orrock writes an op-ed in the AJC,
Pro & Con: Do Georgia’s electric co-ops need better oversight?
Fundamental determinations like power rates and capital expenditures should not be made in the dark — if Georgia Power customers can participate, there’s no reason EMC customers shouldn’t have the same opportunity. Transparency benefits members and the utility. The situation at Cobb EMC would likely not be so contentious if members had been allowed to meaningfully engage with the board and management several years ago.Sounds like a good idea, especially considering Cobb EMC is the one that wants to build a coal plant in Ben Hill County.
On the same page, Paul Wood argues that Continue reading
Sure, everyone wants jobs for the people right now and jobs
so the children don’t have to go somewhere else to find one.
But what good is that if those jobs suck up all the water
those children need to drink?
This is the problem:
“What I believe the three most important things are, not only for our community, and our state, and our country, but for our country, thats jobs number 1, jobs number 2, and jobs.”
I shook Brad Lofton’s hand after that speech and told him I liked it, because I did: in general it was a positive speech about real accomplishments. I’ve also pointed out I had a few nits with that speech. This one is more than a nit. This one is basic philosophy and policy.
Now one would expect an executive director of an industrial authority to be all about jobs. And that would be OK, if Continue reading
Following up on his previous correspondence. -jsq
Continue readingFrom: Russ Anderson
Date: Mon, 31 Jan 2011 16:20:24 -0500
Subject: Re: Attn: Clarifications on my comments
To: blofton@industrialauthority.com, info@sterlingplanet.com, bmaddox@sterlingplanet.comBrad,
I’m not saying the project is good, responsible, that it will actually happen, and def. not that you are in any way right in your opinions of “green” and “renewable”.
Furthermore, I really wish you could get beyond the talking point of “the agencies and groups endorsing similar projects”, because again that is a highly contestable and skewed figure as many local, regional, and national agencies, groups, and networks still voice heavy opposition to this issue and biomass incineration.
Using words like green, renewable, etc. does not magically make it so. I know all about framing language and tactics of those wishing to line their pockets and exploit subsidy and tax loopholes. The simple fact that you are so set in your opinion and mentality is quite alarming..
For example, I am more than willing to embrace control technologies and
Continue readingDate: Wed, 26 Jan 2011 21:59:50 -0500
From: noll_family
To: apaulk@lowndescounty.com, jevans@lowndescounty.com, rraines@lowndescounty.com, cpowell@lowndescounty.com
CC: kay.harris, “John S. Quarterman”
Subject: Last Night’s MeetingDear Chairman Paulk and Commissioners.
Thanks for providing my wife and I and others opposed to the biomass plant the opportunity to address you last night. As a follow-up to last night’s meeting, let me share some thoughts with you, including reflections on a comment made about other “biomass incinerators” in our county and the continuing myth that biomass constitutes a “health benefit”:
Chairman Paulk says
he got a very good email from Susan Wehling,
who said she could not be here tonight.
-jsq
I thank County Clerk Paige Dukes for making the text of the new
Policies and Procedures
available, and refer it to as as sterling example of local
government transparency.
Then I remark that I can’t be quite as complimentary about
their content, which is in some parts too vague and in others too strict.
I offer to provide written comments.
And in my personal opinion local government should not suppress
but rather celebrate citizen participation!
Since at least one commissioner did ask for them, I sent them the written comments yesterday; they will follow in a separate post.
-jsq
Have the courage to be free
Open your eyes, you can fly!
Lizz Wright is a jazz singer and composer from Hahira, Georgia. You may have seen her on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Here’s that clip of Jay Leno welcoming “critically acclaimed singer” Lizz Wright on 24 Jan 2011; she sings:
I’ve really got to use my imaginationTopical words for our situation.
Got to make the best of a bad situation
-jsq
Matt Flumerfelt
compliments the commission on the good reception he’s gotten previously
and objects to the item in the
new rules
about the commission being able to close subjects.
He notes there is always resort to the law, but he hopes
things won’t come to that.
He concludes:
“The road of respect goes both ways.”
-jsq