In the Loop
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Drive-By Truckers Urge Democratic Party Unity
Photo Credit: Screenshot via MSNBC
MSNBC’s Kate Snow interviewed Athens-based band the Drive-By Truckers Tuesday afternoon at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia.
Co-frontman Patterson Hood addressed party unity, saying that he’s now backing the party’s nominee, Hillary Clinton, after supporting Bernie Sanders initially.
“It’s what needs to happen. The stakes are too high right now to sit around and cry because our first choice didn’t get to go on the way. I’m definitely totally on board” with Hillary Clinton, Hood said.
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Athens Power Rankings for the Week of July 25
Welcome to Athens Power Rankings. In the spirit of sports rating systems, through painstaking analysis, we rank the top movers and shakers in the Classic City each week. Who's hot? Who's not? Find out below.
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Is This Anti-Discrimination Law Strong Enough?
Photo Credit: Joshua L. Jones/file
Hundreds marched through downtown in January in support of an ordinance banning discrimination by local businesses.
After a six-month wait for the county attorney to draft it, Athens-Clarke County commissioners are fast-tracking a local anti-discrimination ordinance—but local activists say the proposed law doesn’t go far enough.
Last fall, the UGA Student Government Association—prompted at least partly by a racist shot served at the Confederate-themed bar General Beauregard’s—collected dozens of complaintsfrom minority students about discriminatory practices at student bars downtown. Black students said they’ve been denied entry to certain bars based on dress codes that aren’t applied to white patrons, and that they’ve been turned away because doormen told them the establishment was closed for a private party but allowed in others. Such practices are a “pretext to deny somebody admission based on race or other characteristics,” ACC Attorney Bill Berryman told the commission’s Government Operations Committee July 21.
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Oconee Could Vote on Liquor and Sunday Sales
Oconee County Board of Commissioners Chairman Melvin Davis’ efforts to get alcohol referenda on the ballot in November got a slight push-back from two of his Commission colleagues Tuesday night.
Commissioner Jim Luke said the county needed to do more to warn the citizens that the referenda were under consideration by the board, and Commissioner Mark Saxon agreed.
The bigger setback for Davis came from County Attorney Daniel Haygood.
Haygood told the commissioners that getting separate referenda on the November ballot for Sunday sale of beer and wine in grocery and convenience stores and for Sunday sale of beer, wine and alcohol by the drink in restaurants is straightforward, requiring only a majority vote of the Commission.
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Tell ACC What You Think About Parks and Rec Programs
Do you have an opinion about Athens-Clarke County Leisure Services? You probably do. If so, the ACC Office of Operational Analysis would like to hear from you.
The OOA, formerly known as the auditor’s office, is conducting a comprehensive audit of the Leisure Services Department and has scheduled seven public input sessions over the next two weeks. They will be held:
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Commission Poised to Extend Free Bus Rides for Athens Youth
Photo Credit: Joshua L. Jones/file
Athens-Clarke County commissioners are poised to extend free bus rides for Athens youth—at least for a year—but some are concerned that not requiring them to pay sends the wrong message.
The commission approved a pilot program in February allowing all riders ages 5–17 to ride Athens Transit for free from May 20 (the last day of school) until Aug. 9 (the first day). The program was recommended by the Mayor’s Youth Development Task Force, a group appointed by Mayor Nancy Denson to dissuade youth from joining gangs.
“This was enthusiastically endorsed by the community, our partnership,” said Commissioner Harry Sims, who chairs the task force. “People were really excited about it.”
As a result, youth ridership increased 600 percent, from 48 riders per day to 340, according to Athens Transit.
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Athens Sen. Bill Cowsert Is Voting for Trump
State Sen. Bill Cowsert (R-Athens).
Early on in the Republican primary, state Sen. Bill Cowsert (R-Athens) endorsed Ohio Gov. John Kasich for president.
Kasich—spoiler alert!—didn't win. Now, Cowsert, who is a delegate to the GOP national convention, is falling in line behind presumptive nominee Donald Trump.
Cowsert writes an occasional syndicated column, and in the latest installment, he lets it be know that efforts to deny Trump the nomination are doomed to failure.
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Athens Power Rankings for the Week of July 18
Welcome to Athens Power Rankings. In the spirit of sports rating systems, through painstaking analysis, we rank the top movers and shakers in the Classic City each week. Who's hot? Who's not? Find out below.
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