My Athens

Live From Trappeze

4:40 p.m.

Mayoral Candidate Shinholser  Drinks Raw Beer, Wants Music Venue

Brandon Shinholser, a  candidate for Mayor, has joined us again. I asked him if he could wave a wand as mayor and build something for Athens, what would he create. "This city has progressed on music since the 1970s.  A larger music venue is what we need. Something that really puts a picture on Athens. It would be a great economic development project."

Follow my fellow live blogger, Johnathan McGinty, here.

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5:05 p.m.

By the Way, What is Up with ABH?

Here's something random I've been thinking about: What is the deal with Morris Publishing Group? What, as Flagpole recently asked, does all the financial-speak that Morris spews actually mean? How precarious is the future of the Athens Banner-Herald? Here's some news-fiction I've written about one possible future.

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5:15

The Professor Has a Question for Rep. Paul Broun

Fazal Khan, a UGA law professor who writes about health care policy, is here. I asked him what he'd ask Rep. Paul Broun about health care if he had the chance. Here's what he said: "Where to begin with Paul Broun...You know, at his town hall meeting Broun said he doesn't trust anything that the government does. So, he doesn't trust the army? He doesn't like the University of Georgia? These are both government run institutions. In the arena of heath care we already have data that government-run health care only spends 2 cents on the dollar on overhead costs, whereas private insurers spend upwards of 20 cents on every dollar on non-medical related expenses such as bonuses, marketing, underwriting and share-holder profits. My question to him is: what world is he living in where the facts and the empirical evidence don't matter. It's clear to most experts that a public option would lower costs in this country while not diminishing the quality of care."

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Live From Walker's Coffee & Pub

8:40 a.m.

Does this Work?

Well, we're here at Walker's Coffee & Pub drinking coffee and wondering what we're doing. I'm still waking up, so I'm glad we're alone.

Follow my fellow live-blogger, Johnathan McGinty, here.

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8:59 a.m.

Commissioner Kelly Girtz is Here, and We're Talking about Pocket Parks

I'm asking the Commissioner about ACC's pocket park policy. Specifically why the county seems resistant to parks that serve neighborhoods (as opposed to parks designed serve larger areas).

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9:06 a.m.

Talking and Drinking--Not Posting

I'm discovering I can't do two things at once--write and talk.

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9:20 a.m.

Close Clayton St. to Cars at Night?

Commissioner Girtz floats an idea: Maybe close Clayton Street to car traffic at night to allow pedestrians to better enjoy night life.

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9:43 a.m.

Commissioner Hamby is Here and He Supports Pocket Parks

District 10 Commissioner Mike Hamby says he supports a SPLOST project to fund pocket parks in Athens. "It's just a good way to promote neighborliness."

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9:55 a.m.

If Not Now, When?

Asked about moving forward with the jail project, Commissioner Hamby says: "Why not go ahead and build it before we're forced to do, and be forced to raise property taxes."

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10:07 a.m.

Next Stop: Trappeze Pub at 4 p.m. 4:30 p.m

Maybe I'll learn how to live blog by this afternoon.

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