Newspaper Page Text
I’M THANKFUL
I'm thankful we've got a good community with two good
people running for mayor, one of whom is already a good mayor.
I*m thankful we've got two good people running for Commission
District 9 (especially Kelly Girtz, the hardworking young school
teacher whose candidacy grows out of a dedication to making the
community better for the kids he teaches). This is the season to be
thankful for the men and women willing to run for office, and you
can show them your thanks by going to the polls for the Dec. 5
runoff. If you haven't tried it, don't be too scornful of politicians.
While you're (thankfully) eating your Tofurky, they're constantly
having to put down the fork and pick up the cell phone. Instead of
an after-dinner nap, they've got to jump up and take absentee bal
lots to nursing homes or run in some 5K on a full stomach.
I'm thankful that Charlie Maddox is willing to step forward and
offer to lead this community. He knows us. He grew up here, went
to school here and has worked here all his life, helping people get
jobs. He has served on many boards and commissions, such as the
Athens Housing Authority, where he is chairman of the group that
oversees the operations of the public housing which in his youth
was his home. Athens can be thankful that, if we want a different
mayor, Charlie's willing to be it.
I'm thankful for Heidi Davison. Four years ago, people were
upset and frustrated all over the community. Neighborhoods wer§
invaded by unruly students packed into houses with their SUVs
parked in the front yard. Our beautiful and life-giving tree canopy
was falling by the acre to the bulldozers that leveled the land. Our
downtown was vulnerable to demolition and defacing. A fourth
of our citizens lived in poverty. Sprawl threatened to engulf us.
Traffic grew worse. Many citizens felt left out and thought the
mayor should do a better job, and then they decided they wanted
a better mayor. Heidi agreed to run, and in four years the new
comer has become the experienced mayor.
I'm thankful we have a mayor, who, as soon as she got into of
fice, threw herself into the job of accomplishing what the people
demanded, even though they wanted some things I don't agree
with, for instance the too-restrictive two-person-per-household
limit. Mayor Davison and
n shifting majority on
the ACC Commission have
accomplished the most
productive four years in
our city's history. Heidi
has led us to action on
clear-cutting, mass-grao-
ing, stream buffers, the
poverty initiative, sprawl, neighborhood protection, water quality,
smoking in public places, transportation, an environmental coor
dinator, an urban planner, economic development, traffic calming,
citizen participation, parks, etc.
That's a lot to be thankful for, but of course we must remember j
that not everybody is thankful. All these accomplishments were
achieved through legislation. Most legislation is compromise. No
legislation can benefit all sides completely. Limiting clear-cutting
slices profit margins. So does prohibiting mass-grading. Protecting
the public from tobacco smoke angers those whose customers want
to smoke. Stopping sprawl devalues the land that feeds it.
Mayor Davison has done stuff; she's got a record to run on and
for Charlie to run against. Charlie started out kind of ignoring
Heidi's record and just saying that he could do better, provide new
leadership, bring everybody to the table, etc. In the course of the
campaign, he has talked more about his areas of concern: pov
erty and jobs, transportation, affordable housing, neighborhoods,
equal treatment for all areas. I'm thankful that the campaign, as
it should, has caused Charlie to grow and to think about why he
wants to be mayor and what he will do if he is.
Meanwhile. I am thankful for all the attention this election has
focused on Athens and our predicament. We are at a tipping point.
We can get it together and bring in the kind of jobs we need and
improve our schools and transportation and our quality of life,
or we can become a poor ghetto surrounded by a rich university
and those who use our resources while living outside our borders,
eventually strangling us.
It's your choice: either you can say four years is enough, let
somebody else try to do better, or you can say we've got a four-
year head start on coming to grips with our problems and our pos
sibilities. Personally, I'm thankful for Heidi Davison. She does her
homework: she has proven she can get things done; she's tough
and decisive; she understands Athens, and I think Athens needs
four more years of her smart leadership.
NOTE: The Athens Press Club sponsors a Runoff Debate at The
Melting Point downtown on Tuesday, Nov. 28 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
See page 5 for the details.
Meanwhile, I am thankful for
all the attention this election
has focused on Athens and
our predicament.
Pete McCommons Editor & Publisher editor@tlagpole.com
THIS WEEK’S ISSUE:
NEWS & FEATURES
JFK Blown Away—Hooray! ...
Kennedy’s Dallas Visit Roiled Hate Groups
Violent- opposition was in the air, and in many hearts.
I @%$&#! NY .
A Son Of The South Takes On The Big Apple
If you think finding a home in Athens is difficult, try New York City.
ARTS & EVENTS
Out There!
What’s Happening This Week?
MUSIC
Catch The Fever
For The Past Year, Early Athens Punk Ban^
The Plague Has Been At It Again
Link Soutar and his group were arguably the first punk band in Athens.
Season’s Rockings 24
Sometimes Those Big Rock Shows Can Inspire
You—Just Ask Photographer Chris McKay
The past couple of months have seen some strong performances.
Comment 26
A Musical Elitist Grows Up (Sort Of)
How an obsessive music fan came around from punk and
experimental music to dive into the world of classical.
That Beat In Time 28
Local Bands Unforgotten
A biweekly feature looking at dearly departed local acts. This week: Mercyland.
LETTERS
4
THE PLAGUE
23
CITY PAGES
5
SEASON S ROCKINGS
24
JFK ASSASSINATION
7
COMMENT
26
HIP MAMMA
8
* RECORD REVIEWS
27
NYC APARTMENT HUNTING
9
THAT BEAT IN TIME
28
OUT THERE!
10
THREATS & PROMISES
29
MOVIE DOPE
14
COMICS
30
MOVIE PICK
17
REALITY CHECK
31
ABC
18
CLASSIFIEDS
32
EDITOR l PUBLISHER Pete McCommons
ADVERTISING DIRECTOR l PUBLISHER Alicia NicMes
PRODUCTION OIRECTOR Larry Tenner
MANAGING EDITOR Margaret Moore
ADVERTISING SALES Aata Aubrey, Melinda Edwards. Jessica Pritchard
MUSIC E0IT0R Chris Hassiotis
CITY E0IT0R Ben Emanuel
CLASSIFIEDS, DISTRIBUTION l OFFICE MANAGER Emily Waldron
AD DESIGNERS Ian Rickerl. Kelly Rubcrto
ILLUSTRATOR Jason Crosby, Jacob Hunt
CARTOONISTS Cameron Bogue, Joe Havasy. Jake Hebert. Carol Hyatt, Missy Kulik. Jeremy long. Clint Mcflroy.
Josh Nickerson
ADOPT ME Special Agent Cindy Jerrell
ABC Chris Hassiotis, Ben Emanuel
WRITERS Brad Aaron, Michael Andrews. Michael Barthel. Tom Crawford, Emerson Dameron, Elizabeth Deroshia.
John Huie, Gordon Lamb, Gardner Linn, Chris McKay, Michael Wehunl, Drew Wheeier. Donald E Wilkes. Jr.
CIRCULATION Charles Greenleal. JoJo Ghdewell, Roy Coughlin, Clayton Aucoin, Zack Haas, Lee Sarrell
WEB OESIGNER tan Rickert
ADVERTISING INTERNS Bnan McBrearty. Ashley Allen
EDITORIAL INTERN Catherine Reagan
OFFICE 1 MUSIC INTERN Evan Levine
CONTACT US:
STREET ADDRESS: 112 S. Foundry St.. Athens. GA 30601
MAILING ADDRESS: PO. Box 1027, Athens. GA 30603
EDITORIAL (706) 549-9523
ADVERTISING: (706) 549-0301
FAX: (706) 548-8981
ADVERTISING: ads@flagpole.com
ARTS fc EVENTS: otitthere@flagpole.com
COMICS: comics@ftagpole com
EDITORIAL editor@flagpole.com
LETTERS: letters@llagpole com
MUSIC: music@flagpole.com
MUSIC LISTINGS: abc©flagpole com
WEB SITE: www flagpole com
Flagpole. Inc. publishes flagpole kUgarttt weekly and distributes 17.000 copies
free at over 275 locations around Athens. Georgia Subscriptons cost $55 a year.
$35 tor six mcnlhs O 2006 Flagpole. Inc. All nghts reserved
®oo
AuatUtiaw erf Att—eagtm iNiewkbet
NOVEMBER 22, 2006 • FLAGP0LE.COM 3
NEWS & FEATURES I ARTS & EVENTS I MOVIES I MUSIC I COMICS & ADVICE I CLASSIFIEDS