About Flagpole. (Athens, Ga.) 1987-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 23, 2011)
Repubmart! Quick: how is a downtown Walmart like eliminating super districts? Well, for starters, both are being forced down our throats with little regard for what the people of Athens think. What Athens people think has so far been irrelevant to the developers who envision a big-box shopping mall downtown or the Republican politicians who believe eliminating super- districts will neuter our local government of its progressive tendencies. The Republican legislators took no part in the committee that met all summer to come up with a local reapportionment plan. Then Rep. Doug McKillip rushed in at the last minute with a hastily drawn scheme, too late for it to receive for mal consideration by the reapportionment committee. That committee did take note that McKillip's plan eliminated the superdistricts that provide dual commission coverage for every citizen. The committee also acknowledged the late groundswell Bill Cowsert should be ashamed of himself. suddenly demand that the commission act on superdistricts in the next two weeks, because they intend to bring it before the legislature. Hence the hurried convening of the mayor's citizen committee to consider the pros and cons of superdistricts, even though everybody feels that they're just going through the motions and that the legislators intend to change our form of government by fiat. (These are the same guys who sliced and diced Athens to make a safe seat for Cowsert and then did it again for McKillip.) So, that's how Walmart and superdistricts are the same, and that's why people should be as angry about one as they are about the other. Both propose basic, fundamental changes that will affect the life of every citizen, yet they are unilaterally imposed for profit and politics without regard to the people they profoundly affect. The Selig company out of Atlanta is just doing what devel opers do—putting together a package and recruiting retailers. They don't have to ask whether or not we like it, but they do open themselves up to an explosion of citizen opinion that could at least have been ameliorated if wr had known what was going on—especially when they spring a company like Walmart on us at the last minute. The developers can't necessarily be expected to understand what Athens is all about, but the politicians represent Athens; some live here. They know exactly what kind of town this is. Bill Cowsert should be ashamed of himself. He has gone to school here and marri* d here and practiced law here. Even though he's a Republican, he has always been open to this off beat community and the elements that make up its charm. Now he has gone off to Atlanta and become a hardened Republican ideologue with his eyes on higher office. McKillip we know about: elected by Democrats, he flipped to the Republican side. Williams is from Oconee County; Ginn lives in Madison County. But all four have ganged up to disfigure our local gov ernment, to make their bones with the Republican family in Atlanta. Walmart developers and Republican politicians: both would destroy our Athens for their own gain. Their power-plays exclude participation by citizens who could not only improve their plans but could aid in their acceptance. There's a lot to be said for new business downtown, especially one that includes a grocery store. There's a lot to be said for eliminating superdistricts. The main point is that nobody has been allowed to say anything, and that's why we're shouting. Meanwhile: Slackpole Thanks to all who have sent in material for our end-of-the- year, reader-written section, Slackpole. We still need more help from you, so that we can slack off for the holidays. The dead line is coming up fast: Monday, Nov. 28. See the ad over there on p. 2. Pete McCommons editor@flagpole.com of opinion among African Americans that eliminating superdistricts would enhance their election chances. Accordingly, the reapportionment committee recommended that the mayor and commission take a look at the feasibility of superdistricts. Now the Republican legislators— Sen. Bill Cowsert, Sen. Frank Ginn, Rep. Chuck Williams and Rep. Doug McKillip— THIS WEEK’S ISSUE: [MEWS c§3 FEATURES City Dope 5 Athens News and Views Happy Holidays. Athens—we hope you enjoy your new huge downtown Walmart! Athens Rising 8 What’s Up in New Development Where has all the talk of development—and the lack of it—gotten us? Guess. [VE1MT Miscellany 9 Get Your Ath Together This week news on the Stomp Out domestic Violence performance and the “Occupy" ATHICA installation. Movie Pick 11 Cease to Exist Martha Marcy May Marlene sustains its enigmatic spell from the opening moments to its chilling finale Threats & Promises 12 Music News and Gossip This week The Second Sons show. Julian Koster s X-mas tour and more... Mixtape Wars 14 Drinking Songs: Hudgins vs. Venice Is Sinking Bottoms up with Matt Hudgins and Venice Is Sinking Hiccup. J LETTERS 4 | CITY DOPE 5 CITY PAGES 6 CAPITOL IMPACT 7 COBBLOVIATE 7 ATHENS RISING 8 MISCELLANY 9 ART NOTES 9 MOVIE DOPE 10 MOVIE PICK 11 FILM NOTEBOOK 12 THREATS & PROMISES 12 I DAVID BAZAN 13 MIXTAPEWARS 14 BEARDS OF COMEDY 17 THE CALENDAR! 18 BULLETIN BOARD 24 ART AROUND TOWN 25 COMICS 26 REALITY CHECK 27 CLASSIFIEDS 28 CROSSWORD 29 WHOSE SCHOOLS? 30 EVERYDAY PEOPLE 31 EDITOR & PUBLISHER Pete McCommons ADVERTISING DIRECTOR & PUBLISHER Alicia Nickles PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Larry Tenner MANAGING EDITOR Christina Cotter ADVERTISING SALES Anita Aubrey. Melinda Edwards. Jessica Pritchard MUSIC EDITOR Michelle Gilzenrat CITY EDITOR Dave Marr CLASSIFIEDS. DISTRIBUTION & OFFICE MANAGER Jessica Smith ASSISTANT OFFICE MANAGER Sydney Slotkm AD DESIGNERS Kelly Ruberto, Cindy Jerrell CARTOONISTS Cameron Bogue, Lee Gatlin, Missy Kulik. Jeremy Long. David Mack. Clint McElroy ADOPT ME Special Agent Cindy Jerrell CONTRIBUTORS Ryan Anderson, Caroline Barratt, James C Cobb. Kevin Craig. Tom Crawford. David Eduardo. Melissa Hovanes. Derek Hill. John Huie, Gordon Lamb. Emily Patrick, Jessica Smith, Laura Emiko Soltis. Drew Wheeler, Kevan Williams. Alec Wooden CIRCULATION Charles Greenleat. Nash Hogan. Jesse Mangum, Matt Shirley WEB DESIGNER Kelly Ruberto CALENDAR Jessica Smith ADVERTISING INTERNS Rebecca McGee. Morgan GunU MUSIC INTERNS Jodi Murphy, Ryan Anderson COVER DESIGN by Kelly Ruberto and Larry Tenner * STREET ADDRESS: 112 Foundry St.. Athens. GA 30601 MAILING ADDRESS: P.O. Box 1027. Athens. GA 30603 EDITORIAL (706) 549-9 5 2 3 ADVERTISING: (706) 549-0301 FAX: (706) 548-8981 ADVERTISING: ads@flagpole.com CALENOAR: calendar@flagpole.com COMICS: comics@flagpole.com EDITORIAL: editor@flagpole.com LETTERS: letters@flagpole.com MUSIC: music@flagpole.com NEWS: news@flagpole.com WEBSITE: web@flagpole.com Flagpole. Inc. publishes Flagpole Magazine weekly and distributes 14,500 copies Iree at over 775 locations around Athens. Georgia. Subscriptions cost $55 a year, $35 for six months. @2011 Flagpole. Inc. All rights reserved. VOLUME 25 ISSUE NUMBER 46 A\vocut>on of < IR( t LA TIPS | VERIFICATION |j t (I l \ C I I Holiday Celebration f j Saturday dec 3rd 10 - 7 pm Snowtacular Door Prizes For the First 100 Gue sts! Tantalizing Treats... Snowsational Libations! Plus.. YOUR Holiday Gift Is Here... A Dream Catcher Nflvfljc Crtlft&A embellished with leather, geniune feathers & beads : m - Each Holiday Season We Select A Special Thank YOU Gift*! An Expression of Our Appreciation & Gratitude of Your Support Throughout The Years * Available Starting Friday. November 25th •Retail Value $12.50 While Supplies, One Per Iverson With Purchase 195 e dayton st 706-6436426 mon-sQ10-7 sun 12-6 with purchase of 2 Entrees & 2 Drinks Expires 11/30/1 J. Not valid with any other offer. Dtne-in only. trivia 3523 Atlanta Hwy. (Next to Academy Sports) * 706-353-7771 NOVEMBER 23, 2011 ■ FLAGPOLE.COM 3
