About Flagpole. (Athens, Ga.) 1987-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 14, 2011)
ATHENS NEWS AND VIEWS TAX CHANGES NOT LIKELY Now We Get It: In announcing the sale of the building that houses the Athens Banner- Herald last week, the paper's parent company, Morris Publishing, pulled one of its patented moves: printing a pseudo-objective press release about its own activities as though it were a news story, complete with an unattrib uted but highly subjective characterization of the ABM’s recent transition to a "digital first" model. Morris didn't even bother to include a byline (or not to include a final "about Morris Publishing" paragraph directing readers to its Web address "for more information"). A ver sion of the same "article" ran in the Augusta Chronicle, with no mention of the fact that Morris owns that paper, too. It's nice when Morris reminds us who they are by abandoning even the pretense of journalistic integrity And if we didn't trust the integrity of the ASH’S local staff, it would be tempting to speculate as to whether the paper's coverage of recent proposed develop ments on land just outside the windows of One Press Place had been shaped in any way by the company's own real estate interests. The Banner Heralds dogged skepticism of the public-private Blue Heron initiative and open accommodation of Selig Enterprises' PR cam paign for its Walmart development indicate a clear bras in favor of unfettered private profitmaking. That influential coverage cer tainly couldn't have hurt the parent company's efforts to unload its albatross of a building, but was that its motivation? We sincerely hope not, but Morris gives us no reason not to wonder. Speaking of Selig: The public discourse sur rounding the proposed mixed-use develop ment on the Armstrong & Dobbs property at the edge of downtown has been marked by the repeated claim by Selig and its support ers (including the editorial page of the ABH) that the project, despite the absence of any plans having been submitted for the site is fully in compliance with ACC zoning and planning code. That claim, stated as a simple fact, has been an incredibly effective propa ganda tool for Selig, as it casts any arguments against the specifics of the project as DOA: You don't like it? Too bad, because it's in full (ompliance with the taw and no one has the power to demand it be changed." The further implication is that anyone who objects to any aspect of the plan is an out of touch cry baby who wants to (hange the rules after the game's already been played. But evidence continues to mount that the da'm is false. The issue of whether Selig's alleged expenditure of $250,000 has afforded it "vested rights" to proceed with the develop ment as planned seems far from settled. The question of whether or not county officials have given assurances that building permits will be issued is wide open to interpretation, as Blake Aued's Dec. 11 ABH article, "Could downtown zoning change stop Walmart?" (and earlier Flagpole coverage) made clear. Even so, the vested rights angle may not be the best one to pursue in terms of limiting the scope of the development: lacking Mayor Nancy Denson's support, ACC commissioners would have to muster a 7-3 majority just to get a rezoning of the area on the agenda, and likely have to defend it in a lawsuit if it passed. Anyway, Selig has other serious hurdles to clear before its deal is truly "done." The results of a study on the probable traffic impacts of the project on surrounding streets, and of the prospects for sufficiently ameliorating them, will be critical to determining whether a 100,000-square- foot Walmart is an accept able use of the property. It's likely that even a study paid for by the developer itself, and needing approval only from the business-friendly GDOT, will be hard-pressed to find that the Oconee cor ridor, which faces serious obstacles to widening both to the immediate east and west of the A&D site, could be made to handle the kind of increased traffic the pro posed "supercenter" would bring. And then, there's the fact that the devel opment's proposed layout would make an extension of Hickory Street southwest to Oconee and Fulton streets impossible to achieve, ever—despite its inclusion on ACC's Transportation Corridor Concept Map, which the M&C updated with a July 2010 vote. That's not a trivial detail; the map reflects a carefully considered plan to create a direct connection between the multi-modal transportation center and the UGA campus, and all new development is supposed to accommodate it. A variance from the map would have to go before the ACC Hearings Board—along with a request for exemption from "minimum facade window requirements" on one of the parking decks, according to a Nov. 17 ABH article, which may not be as "minor" as it's characterized by a Selig official in the article. The bottom tine is that the developer of this immense project—which, it needs to be noted, can be a wonderful thing for down town and Athens in general—is stilt account able to the standards of this community. We need to remember that, no matter how hard Selig and its proxies try to make us forget. Speaking of Community Priorities: The local education initiative Whatever It Takes released its Athens Community Plan for Children Dec. 12, after this issue's press time. The plan, produced over a year of study and planning, is available for download at www. flagpole.com and www.witathens.org. Printed copies will be distributed throughout the com munity, or can be obtained directly from WIT by calling (706) 372-6762. Dave Marr rvws&tiagpoie com No. it's not beingTorn down, they’re just working on the Sidewalk But One Press Place, home of the Athens Banner-Herald, has been sold by its parent company. Morris Publishing Group The paper will continue to rent office space in the building. This time a year ago, Georgia's politi cal leadership was on fire to push through a sweeping revision of the state's creaky tax code. The cries were heard in the Capitol hall ways: "Broaden the tax base! Flatten the tax rates! Cut income taxes for everybody!" The tax reform campaign appeared to be an unstoppable juggernaut that would roll through the General Assembly and drop a bright, shiny bill on the desk of Gov. Nathan Deal for his signature. The only problem was, reality intervened. A major part of the tax revision proposal involved the elimination of most of the tax breaks and exemptions that had been granted over the years to various businesses and special interest groups. Corporate lobbyists quickly made it clear that they weren't going to sit still and allow that to happen. It also turned out that facts are stubborn things. The aca demic consultants and econo mists who analyzed the tax proposal pointed out that lower ing income tax rates for busi nesses. which was the primary goal of the leadership, would make it necessary to raise taxes on every one else to comply with the constitu tional requirement that the Legislature adopt a balanced budget. Legislative leaders kept demanding that the analysts run the numbers again until they came up with a more favorable outcome, but no matter how many times you add it up, you cannot make two plus two equal five. In the end, the tax revision bill was yanked from the table by House leaders before it ever went to the rank-and-file members for a vote. House Speaker David Ralston promised that lawmakers would make another attempt to revamp the tax system. The first indications of that new campaign surfaced last week in a legislative committee meeting. Sen. Bill Heath (R-Bremen) proposed eliminating the sales tax on energy used in manufacturing and agriculture, increasing the state sales tax to 5 percent, restoring the state sales tax on groceries that was removed in the 1990s, and increasing the tobacco tax from 37 cents per pack of cigarettes to $1.37 a pack. The revenues raised from the sales and excise tax increases would make it possible to lower the income tax rate from 6 percent to 3.7 percent, Heath estimated. Senate President Pro Tern Tommie Williams (R-Lyons) was especially supportive of the idea of restoring the sales tax on groceries, calling the elimination of that tax "one of the biggest mistakes" of former governor Zell Miller's administration. With the leadership of one legislative chamber ready to move forward, you'd think that tax revision was a certainty. That turned out niYc to be the case, how ever. On.j of Deal's spokesmen said the governor would not support tax increases on groceries or cigarettes. The House Republican leadership also seemed a little reluctant to start mixing it up on the tax issue along the lines pro posed by their Senate colleagues. "I'm very leery of this economy we're in now, particularly the world situation," said House Majority Leader Larry O'Neal (R-Bonaire). "If you couple a big change in tax policy with what could happen in Europe... on a short-term basis, that might put too much pressure on small businesses." Because of the recent reapportionment process, many legislators will be running for reelection in redrawn districts that include new voters. I don't think they relish the idea of explaining to these new constituents why they voted to put a 4 percent state sales tax on the food they buy. For all those reasons, ydu can assume that revising the state's tax laws will remain a proj ect that is set aside for others to take up at some point in the future. Tom Crawford tcrawtordOgareport com Tilt MOIU WMLB by TOM TOMORROW FACTS ABOUT NEWT GINGRICH MOTS: QUOTATION MARKS OCNOTI OCNUMC QUOTf t VISITED FIRST WIFE IN HOSPITAL TO DISCUSS DIVORCE * CURRENTLY TRY ING TO 08FUSCATE STORY 0Y DISPUTING DETAILS. Z MOST CERTAINLY DID nor HAVE A YELLOW legal pad; IN A i991 NOTE TO him self, wrote: Gin grich--primary mission, ADVOCATE OF civilization, DEFINER OF civilization, TE Ac HE'S OF the RULES Oil CIVILIZATION, AROOSER OF THOSE WHO FAN CIV ILIZATION. LEADER (PoS- SiBlY) OF the civilizing FORCES- HAS ALSO REFERRED TO HIMSELF AS A "TRANS FORMATIONAL FIGURE.' According t o a Formes ■ led pessecution of Bill MISTRESS, PREFERRED ■ CLINTON fos EXTRAMARITAL ORAL SEX BECAUSE HE ■ AFFAIR WHILE HAVING AN COULD then deny having I EXTRAMARITAL AFFAIR. SLEPT WITH HE8 ALSO has subsequently blamed HIS NUMESOOS AFFAIRS ON the intensity of his LO* FOR AMERICA. "THERE'S NO QUESTION AT TIMES of MY LIFE, PARTIALLY DRIVEN BY HOW PASSIONATELY Z FELT ABOUT this COUNTRY.., THINGS HAPPENED IN MY LIFE THAT WERE NOT APPROPRIATE." IN '95, INDIGNATION 0>ER A SEAT ASSIGNMENT ON AIR FORCE ONE LED TO BUDGET IMPASSE WHICH SHUT DOWN GOVERNMENT. was first speaker in 2 OS YEARS to BE DISCIPLINED By HOUSE For Ethical wrongdoing ' PAID UNPRECEDENTED $300,000 PENALTY. I I Blamed the murder of TWO CHILDREN by their MOTHER ON DEMOCRATS. "Or VIVIDLY RE* NT* EVERY AMERICAN how SKA THE society IS getting ..the only way YOU GET change IS to [vote rcpublkA*r CLAIMS TO BE BAFFLED BY OUR CENTRIST, TECH NOCRATIC PRESIDENT, what f he is SO OUT SIDE OF our COMPREHEND VON MS ONLY If YOU JNDCSrANt XENVAN ANTI. COLONIAL BEHAVIOR, CAN YOU BEGIN to PIECE jj ogctmER (his Actions)? IN 199* MEMO PUR PORTING to RESPOND TO the plaintive PLEAS" OF CANDIDATES WHO WISHED COULD "SPEAK WE NEWT. compiler ur of TERMS FOR M P fo USE (N •ESCRIBING/ DEMOCRATS. MouBMtf Atrri-fiAS AAfri-OFttf AtfTI- FAAAU't Bn An fit PArwrric sick and Of COURSE, TAAITOAS ACCORDING TO A RECENT POLL, ZOWA VOTERS CON SIDER HIM MOST APT TO BRING REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS TOGETHER. WHAT? WHY IS EVERYONE! t Al/GWfAFE Oomu* Am nut: DC FIND A FOO«QALi. HtufttT tM’ r>' BtcAuM •*» MfA# WAS TWO MB 4 FLAGPOLE COM DECEMBER 14, 2011 -S* 1iMj*VW©20 II ...mni tt»%mo<Mrnworld.com.
