Newspaper Page Text
CONTACT US AT P.O. BOX 1027, ATHENS, GA 30603, LETTERS@FLAGPOLE.COM
OR VIA THE “TALK BACK TO US’’ LINK AT FLAGPOLE.COM
KAPPA ALPHA
What will 30 pieces of silver buy today?
What does the integrity of a neighborhood
mean, and how much is that wortn? What does
good will cost? Who is responsible for the
destruction of a neighborhood? The answers
are not simple, but they are disturbing. Thirty
nieces of silver will buy a bulldozer for Gamma
... Lners, LLC to destroy two architecturally
significant houses in the Reese Street neigh
borhood. Watching the demolition of these
houses, I thought of the lives, the stories
and the history embedded in their walls, and
almost cried. However, the loss of the houses
is more than just a physical, spatial loss with
a flattened expanse of dirt at the intersec
tion of Church and Reese. These houses were
contributing structures in the historic district,
and anchors to the integrity of the neighbor
hood. Can the neighborhood and its residents
survive the callous destruction and greed of
Gamma Partners, LLC
to get the residential
density they wanted
for the fraternity and
apartment buildings?
Let us hope so.
In this season of
hope and redemp
tion, let us hope
that the young men
of the Kappa Alpha fraternity distance them
selves from the wanton destruction of the 12
anonymous alumni who make up the corpora
tion that owns the property. Let us hope they
become socially responsible citizens of this
neighborhood who will preserve and advocate
for the integrity of the neighborhood. Let us
hope they take a leadership role in rebuking
corporate greed, in promoting authentic good
will, and in respecting the people, the build
ings, and the history of this neighborhood.
Rosemarie Goodrum
Athens
NBAF
While at first glance, falling for that cute
little bio-terror lab might have seemed a "no-
brainer,"' as you suggested [Pub Notes, Feb.
27], once we crawled out of that sleazy bar
into the cold, clear light of day and seized
control of our higher faculties, some of us
could see that she has a lot of... uh... "bag
gage." In fact, quite a few of us are wishing
that she would just take her bad self out of
here and find a new, poorly-lit bar full of gull
ible suckers (preferably on another planet—if
she can find one without the Internet).
With regard to your comparison of the
NBAF uproar to that kicked up by the "weap
ons factory" design of tire Classic Center back
in the '90s, the message I got was that, when
faced with enough citizen outrage, the county
will back down and acquiesce "to a better plan
acceptable to the populace." Although our
Mayor and Commission say they will not make
a formal stand one way or another on NBAF,
we have the recent example of North Carolina
municipalities withholding support (admit
tedly short of "withdrawing" support), and
this action certainly sends a dear signal, if
nothing else, to OHS.
And right here, in this very space, is that
elusive "better plan!" Why is the adaptive
reuse of the Navy School as a satellite campus
of the Medical College of Georgia not being
presented to this community as the project
that will take us where NBAF could never go?
Perhaps we would do well, as the smallest
county in the state, to focus our time, money,
energy and talent on this one promising
(and expensive) undertaking and the positive
things that could accrue to this community
over time through the addition of much-
needed physician training facilities and all the
associated growth in biomedical (NOT "bioter
ror") industries that would follow.
Just a thought Time to report back to my
bunker for some more guerilla training.
Carol Goerig
Athens
NBAF & STIPE
I write this in response to Pete's com
mentary saying that NBAPs courting Athens
as its potential home is akin to Michael Stipe
asking us if we want to hang out. [Pub Notes,
Feb. 27] In reality it is not that innocent. In
reality it is more like Michael Stipe asking if
we want to hang out
and do drugs... lots
and lots of drugs. We
really shouldn't—
but it's Michael
Stipe! No, wait—it's
Michael Chertoff!
And let's face it—
bringing jobs to ACC
is good in theory, but
all that really does is bring traffic to ACC as all
of those high-salary Plum Islana transplants
will live in the 'burbs of Oconee County, send
their kids to Oconee County schools and spend
their hard-earned dollars on property taxes
there—not here.
If ACC and UGA want Athens to appeal to a
tall, dark and handsome corporate suitor, we
need to funnel money into our schools and do
some other fundamental housekeeping in order
to compete with Oconee County for residents
(if that is what we truly desire). Maybe then
Athens will appeal to a corporate suitor devoid
of Michael Chertoff baggage—someone dreamy
and uninterested in jacking us up on highly
infections, incurable substances. Athens—love
thyself! We are too good for NBAF.
Karen Uhlmeyer
Athens
NBAF & B0C
So, Doc Eldridge asked, "If not NBAF, then
what?" Editor Jim Thompson at the Athens
Banner-Herald and others await a response to
add credibility to those who question whether
NBAF is the best fit for Athens. How about
this? Let's diversify our economic development
plans and reach out to the green economy.
The green economy is on its way, and we
in Athens could be right there at its forefront
Last August the U.S. House of Representatives
approved the Green Jobs Act of 2007, to help
train workers for jobs in renewable energy
and energy-efficient industries. Political lead
ers from both parties—John McCain, Arnold
Schwarzenegger, Hillary Clinton, and Barack
Obama—all emphasize the importance of the
green economy in their policy proposals, with
Clinton, for example, just having announced
a "Green Jobs Plan." In Pittsburgh, labor
leaders in the AFL-CIO are meeting to make
their move into the green economy with their
"Good Jobs, Green Jobs: A National Green Jobs
Conference." Last summer in Richmond, CA, 21
students graduated from a solar building class
with expected starting incomes of S18-S21/
hour, part of an affordable housing initiative
to promote solar power and jobs in a com
munity with high unemployment rates in that
city's young non-white male population.
Our county government embraces for
ward-thinking energy and environmental
practices—building L.E.E.D energy-efficient
buildings, using electric vehicles, responding
quickly to the drought and looking for ways to
recycle more, start a countywide compost pro
gram and reduce landfill use. We need to move
our local economy in the same direction.
With a move towards the green economy,
we become leaders in this burgeoning eco
nomic field, we build jobs to fight our very
real poverty problems, and we do our part in
fighting the now finally-accepted reality of
global warming. What a perfect solution for
this progressive community.
Carol Myers
Athens
READY TO ROCK
Dear Athens: Many of you know my hus
band Brandon McDearis suffered a stroke, on
stage, in November of 2007. What y'all might
not know is how much our family appreci
ated all the love and support shown to us
from members of this community. From the
folks who helped us at the frat house, to the
ones who made hospital visits, lent entertain
ment material, inquired about his health and
dropped off food, we learned that our music
community is not only cool, but enormously
generous and caring as well.
Also, I'd also like to give a big thanks to
Doc Eldridge. Doc's friend who is a local physi
cian and assisted us at the frat house, and
the badass ambulance driver from St. Mary's.
To get to a frat house in less than 20 minutes
when a UGA game is letting out is nothing
short of a miracle. I am happy to report to
you all the results of Brandon's latest tests
show his artery has healed completely and
the blood clot has dissolved. This dean bill
of health means he can beat the crap out of
his drums again (while making his usual weird
faces and bobbing his head), and we couldn't
be happier! Mad love and big props to you all!
Teresa McDearis
Athens
WHERE’S THE ART?
On my latest visit to UGA, I noticed a cou
ple of musidans on the street comer playing
the guitar and a well-imagined and designed
percussion instrument. What ingenious artists
these two were! After visiting the fine arts
building, I continued my walk through the
many eateries, in search of more art. I was
disappointed by the very few and for between
art establishments at this location. What
has happened? The art building is in need of
attention! These two musidans have what the
college campus seemed to be lacking, moxie
and artistic expression. Why so many eateries?
Why so few artists? Does anybody care?
Name Withheld
Email
T
pawcitig
Bug
trducn 1 ion
bv
jKuUen
e»oU.n^
1. 0 Cause and Effeci'*..
Why am 1 doing so badly in
Science? Hckm am I going +o
tell Mom and Dad about
D?
BUMPERSTICKER OF THE WEEK:
Drum Machines Have No Soul
Send sightings to ben©flagpote.cnm
or caH 706-549-9523. Thanks.
4 FLAGP0LE.C0M • MARCH 12,2008 NEWS & FEATURES I CALENDAR I MOVIES I A&E I MUSIC I COMICS & ADVICE I CLASSIFIEDS
l‘UO?.ftnq6upv«f*w|4iv64"*/v«'« *Off0* -*HlVlC#H 9ocl9 3 l>5UJnAt SSIbd iv*B3AiNfi A* xVO