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OPEN LETTER: DOORMEN
Dear members of the Athens city government:
I'm writing you today as a concerned citizen. I’ve
been a member of this community since 1990.
I'm a licensed psychotherapist college instructor
and grandfather. I frequent the downtown area
often, usually to play pool relax and enjoy some
company and to conduct business.
It has become increasingly clear that during
the past two years an ominous cloud of fas
cism has permeated the city and specifically the
downtown area. The armed police presence has
increased. The attitude of police has become ag
gressive. The cameras are an insult to privacy;
the founding fathers would have torn them down
by now. The non-smoking policy in the bars is
absurd. In a restaurant, yes, maybe. Each estab
lishment should have the option, as a private
business, to choose their own smoking, behav
ioral and dress codes.
Now I hear licensed doormen? Are you people
kidding? As a voting, tax-paying, etc. citizen, I
will work strenuously to replace you at the soon
est democratic junction if you choose to contin
ue this oppressive, controlling regime. I urge you
to shift your focus to DUIs, homeless concerns,
street cleaning and trash pick-up, and that you
stop trying to run the downtown businesses from
some misguided return to prohibition.
Bill Valko
Athens
SAVE DOORMEN
The new proposed alcohol ordinance changes
operate to prohibit bars from having doormen
except in extreme circumstances. The changes
would be counter-productive to addressing the
perceived but mostly non-existent problem with
bars downtown, and would sweep virtually all
doormen out of the bars in Athens.
In order to have a doorman, a bar would have
to have applicants undergo an arduous screen
ing process like with teachers. Bars would have
to pay a much higher compensation for such
persons, plus high fees. Applicants would have
to pass a course beforehand and face potential
personal liability, thus significantly reducing
the pool seeking the job (the supply), and also
reducing the demand
by the employers who
must pay more, there
fore driving up the
cost of such personnel.
Having doormen
is a good rather than
bad idea. It makes no
sense to discourage
them. The idea that
the proposal simply
tweaks the standards
naively ignores the economic realities, like
the pre-existing incentive for bars to seek the
highest quality personnel they can afford when
volunteering to bear the expense of a doorman.
Planning additional infringement on the liberties
of applicants, such as making a record of their
bar employment, does a disservice to their later
employability.
I urge the commissioners to think through
this proposal for the common good, rather than
takihg a knee-jerk measure for appearances
without consideration of market factors. Such
measures set a bad precedent for other types of
workers and should only be adopted when pru
dent and necessary, and not merely when avail
able and superficially attractive.
Eric Krasle
Athens
CR0SSWALKS.1
Just finished reading the article "Crossing the
Road* [City Pages, Aug. 22]. First, Justin Kau,
bum deal, sorry.
Now, I just moved to Athens (and back to
Georgia).about six months ago and I've got to
say that this is one of
the most pedestrian-
and cyclist-unfriendly
towns I've lived in
(including Atlanta!).
Guess it doesn't help
moving here from a
hippie western town
where it was too ex
pensive to have a car
anyway.
Why don't folks
stop like they're supposed to?! I walked across
one a while back ana my girlfriend fussed that I
was "asking for it." Come on, don't blame the pe
destrian here. It's a law; signs are up everywhere.
Stop! If you see a car mysteriously stopped in
the next lane while driving, take a hint and plan
to stop.
I would recommend they (AKA "the city")
install some type of crossing signal. Doesn't have
to be a full-fledged stop light, just a ground-
mounted flashing red-light. I've seen these wo*
very effectively in other dries. Also, why not is
sue dtarions for those failing to stop? This could
be a huge money-maker for the city and perhaps
increase awareness of the law. Just my two cents'
worth.
Christopher Stone
Athens
CR0SSWALKS.2
Here's a simple solutior to the dangers of us
ing crosswalks on the Prince Avenue speedway
[City Pages, Aug. 22]: Why not install speed
humps at all crosswalks? It works wonders on
Hill Street and Boulevard! Even the visually
noticeable brick crosswalks on Baxter seem to
slow traffic since they are raised slightly from
the pavement. Cost is minimal and perhaps the
deaths and serious injuries resulting from aggres
sive drivers will come to an end permanently.
W.A.M.
Athens
WHAT TOFU IS.1
It's not so much that the outspoken members
of the Anti-Tofu Baby Brigade are missing the
point of the comic. It's that, in a way, they ARE
the point. I mean, how much is innocence really
worth if there's nothing trying to spoil it?
Of course, it's easy to see why these stiffened
post-modernists might be confused: Missy Kulik's
creation is not ironic. It's not snarky or self-
important or provocative. It's not complex, and
it's not bitter. It is what it is, and joyfully so,
no matter what. These qualities make Tofu Baby
utterly unlike everything else in your magazine,
and that is exactly why it's needed.
Davy Gibbs
Athens
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4 FLAGP0LE.C0M • AUGUST 29.2007
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