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CONTACT US AT P.O. BOX 1027, ATHENS, GA 30603, LETTERS@FLAGPOLE.COM
OR VIA THE “TALK BACK TO US” LINK AT FLAGPOLE.COM
A BIKEATHENS APPEAL
BikeAthens would like to make a public
appeal for help in finding an affordable,
long-term location for the Bicycle Recycling
Program (BRP).
The BRP refurbishes donated and discarded
bikes and redistributes them through social
service agencies to members of the Athens
community who are in need. In 2009 our
volunteers repaired and donated about 70
adult bikes and 62 kids' bikes to organizations
including: the Athens Area Homeless Shelter
JobTREC program, the DUI/Drug Court pro
gram, Project Safe, Fowler Drive Elementary,
and Court Appointed Special Advocates.
Interfaith Hospitality Network, Athens Land
Trust and the Salvation Army. 2009 was also
the second year in a row in which we were
able to cover our rent and other costs by sell
ing some of our bikes to the public.
We have outgrown our current space in the
Chase Park Warehouse, and due to develop
ments in the building we do not have the
option to expand. Also, our lack of amenities
such as restrooms and Internet access limit
our ability to broaden the programs that we
offer. We have searched over the past year for
a space that better fits our needs both on the
private market and through the Athens-Clarke
County government, but so far our efforts
have been unsuccessful. We are able to afford
modest rent, but all of the suitable properties
we have found on the market are well out of
our budget.
We are making this public appeal in the
hope that someone in the community might
bring forward an option that we have not
yet explored. Bear in mind that because
BikeAthens is a 501(c)(3) non-profit orga
nization, charitable donations to us are tax
deductible.
The following are characteristics of a suit
able space for us:
• 1,500 to 2,000 square feet, minimum
10-foot ceiling, durable floors
• Ground floor with roll-in access via dou
ble or overhead door
• Secure, but accessible by staff at any
hour
• Electric and water service; restroom(s)
on site
• Bike- and pedestrian-friendly location
near downtown Athens
• Office/meeting space for staff, with
phone and/or Internet available
If you can help, please contact Jason Perry
at brp<S>bikeathens.com.
Bike Athens
Athens
NANCY WELCOMES SPENCER
I am encouraged and not surprised that
Spencer Frye sent out a press release to join
me in supporting legislation by the Georgia
State Legislature that closely models PACE
bonds used in California. I expressed support
for the legislation and PACE bonds on April 12
at the Common Ground Forum, attended by all
mayoral candidates.
PACE bonds allow homeowners to finance
energy-efficient upgrades to their homes
through bonds that would be repaid by an
increase in their tax assessment. A homeowner
would have to opt into the PACE program;
there would be no tax increases to indi
viduals who do not
participate.
I am and always
have been a propo
nent of incentives
to increase energy
efficiency to diversify
our county's energy
portfolio and lower
overall energy cost.
In fact decreasing energy cost and my con
cern for the environment as well as making
it more convenient for the public, was the
catalyst that led me to go to a 10-hour, four-
day work week at our Tag Office almost two
years ago.
When asked, on April 12, if I supported
requiring residential buildings to meet the
same high energy-efficient standards that
Athens requires of commercial buildings, I
responded, *1 would like us to develop incen
tives for single family homes to have the same
high standards, but only with incentives, not
mandates. There is a new piece of legislation
that passed the house that is about to go to
the Senate that is based off the program PACE.
I think it would be irresponsible for a mayor
not to support this.'
Athens, like the rest of the country, is
experiencing tough financial times. These
times require our elected officials to find
common sense ways to maintain and improve
essential services balancing the needs of our
citizens. PACE Bonds are a common sense way
to help homeowners afford the high upfront
investment of energy-efficient upgrades,
that will pay off with lower energy bills and
increased home value. This is why I supported
this legislation publicly earlier this year.
I find it interesting that Mr. Frye did not
publicly support this legislation until it had
actually passed. I guess he doesn't want to be
perceived as irresponsible.
Nancy Denson
Athens
SPENCER RESPONDS TO NANCY
Tax Commissioner Denson is correct to
assert that she announced her support for
PACE Bonds on
April 12 at Common
Ground*s second may-
oral forum. However,
she is incorrect to
assert that Spencer
Frye did not sup
port legislation until
after it was signed
by the governor. In
fact Spencer Frye announced his support at
Common Ground's first mayoral forum three
months prior to Tax Commissioner Denson,
on Jan. 16, at 12:39 p.m. Georgia Liberal
live-blogged the debate which you can
see at http://galiberal.com/7p-6804 Tax
Commissioner Denson was sitting a few feet
away.
Not only did Spencer Frye announce his
support for it he contacted Representative
Doug McKillip about the matter, who in turn
contacted the Office of Legislative Council
about the legislation. Both Spencer Frye's
contact with McKiUip and McKillip's contact
with Legislative Council took place in January.
That's not it though. When Spencer Frye
announced his campaign for Mayor on Mar. 23
(nearly three weeks prior to Denson's Apr. 12
support of PACE Bonds), he created a website
that features his stances on the issues. One
of those issues, which you can still see right
now by viewing www.spencerfrye.com, is PACE
Bonds.
Throughout Spencer's life and currently
as a candidate for mayor, Spencer Frye has
advocated for and implemented new, forward-
thinking ideas. In the 1990s, Spencer Frye
founded an environmental company based on
sustainability that at the time, was cutting-
edge innovation. As Executive Director of
Habitat, he founded the ReNew Athens initia
tive that renovates neglected apartment com
plexes into affordable housing at one-third
of the cost of traditional affordable housing.
Spencer Frye was recently recognized by
Flagpole magazine, which stated “Spencer Frye
has charged ahead of his fellow candidates—
at least in terms of his active engagement
with the local media and, hence, with Athens
voters.'
Spencer Frye had the following to say
about the issue, “I think the important thing
is that both Nancy and I support PACE bonds,
irrespective of who was the first to announce
support. I look forward to working with Tax
Commissioner Denson so that Athens can
be one of the first cities in Georgia to enact
a successful PACE Bonds program. We can
accomplish much more by working together
than by working against each other.'
Spencer Frye press release
Athens
TURNED OFF
To fans of the Globe: I have been a happy
customer of the Globe for 20 years. In all
that time, there has never been a television
downstairs. Until today. If that's a permanent
change, HI be sad to say goodbye to what was
the best pub in Athens.
Brad
Athens
BUMPERSTiCXEfl OF THE WEEK:
Don’t Believe Everything You Think
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