InDecatur has done a good job the last couple weeks of keeping us up-to-date on the controversy surrounding the PATH Foundation’s new proposed bike path through Mason Mill Park. Now Radical Georgia Moderate informs us of plans by the Three Forks Alliance to sue PATH to stop construction.

Bikers vs. Hikers. (Obviously I’m generalizing here. I’m sure there’s a lot of crossover.)

I’m deeply conflicted. Two groups usually in close agreement might be fighting it out in court. Once I get any sort of grasp of both sides of this issue, maybe I’ll post an opinion. But for now, I’m having trouble choosing between my bike helmet and day pack.

Can’t we just go back to saber-rattling at those pesky developers?

An inside source from the Dekalb County Office of Economic Development tells Decatur Metro poster, Rus, that “the Georgia Department of Revenue made a “sweep” through Decatur targeting restaurants and bars who were behind in paying their sales taxes.”

He goes on to say “My source said there would be more businesses to lose their licenses but didn’t know yet which ones.”

See this post for the list of Decatur restaurants currently on “the list”.

This is going to hurt a lot of area restaurants in 2008. Who will be able to keep their heads above water and who will not?

Pasta Please and the Angel might just be the first victims.

Stay tuned. I’ll have it all here.

Thanks Rus!

If my report from the city commission meeting on Tuesday didn’t do it for you, GoDeKalb also has a recap this morning.

As opposed to the misleading and sloppy AJC article from Wednesday that asserted the plan for annexation was “on hold”, Mary Swift of GoDeKalb does a good job of summing up the evening’s events as well as reporting on Avondale’s ad-hoc annexation counterstrike against Decatur’s plan.

Since this is the first real report on Avondale’s plan, let’s take a closer look at what’s going on in the Tudor city according to the GoDeKalb article.

The city appointed an ad hoc annexation committee on Jan. 15 after Decatur indicated it might attempt annexation of the property between the cities this legislative session.

Allan Kirwan, chairman of the Avondale Estates ad hoc annexation committee, told city officials at a special called work session on Jan. 23 that it appeared Decatur would not try to get annexation approved this year. Huh? Where did they get this impression? The AJC article?

“The committee finds that at this point we are not ready to annex substantial properties,” the ad hoc committee’s first report said. The committee suggested city officials develop an immediate, 2-year, 5-year and “an ultimate year” annexation plan and the city should try to assess the positions of the property owners regarding annexation. Committee members also said the zoning code should be revised to accommodate different types of properties that might be annexed.”

Don’t bite off more than you can chew Avondale. Don’t you have a revitalization plan to implement?

So the $64k question for the morning is: if you owned a commercial property on E. College, which city would you rather be annexed into? Or would you rather remain in unincorp. DeKalb limbo?

Personally I think Decatur’s Downtown Development Authority and our police force are reason enough to tip the scales in favor of Decatur, regardless of the higher property tax.

h/t: InDecatur

My wife came across this 2008 list of Non-Renewed Alcohol Licenses (effective thru today) on the Department of Revenue website. There’s also a search function here.

Below are Decatur establishments without a current “consumption on premise” liquor license according to the list

Not Yet Reported on Decatur Metro

• Nathalie’s Key West Fish House (giving out complementary glasses – Carl)

• Ted’s Montana Grill (claims they haven’t lost it – Carl)

• Benedetti’s (lost consumption on premise license)

• Los Loros (has 2008 license)

• Crescent Moon (lost retail license)

• Twain’s (lost BWP-brewpub? license)

• Maddy’s (lost retail license)

• Duck’s Cosmic Kitchen (lost retail license)

• Amaryn’s Thai Bowl (lost retail license)

Already reported on Decatur Metro

• The Angel – Closed

• Pasta Please – Closed

• Zocalo – Already Confirmed

• Mick’s – Closed

Can anyone confirm or deny the “new ones”?

I know I sound like a broken record, but what the heck is going on? Ted’s? Can that be believed?

Let’s do a little myth-busting this morning, inspired by an insightful comment by “lady clay” in our “Whole Foods Does Away with Plastic Grocery Bags” posting.

Like many people, I assumed that plastic grocery bags were much more harmful to the environment than paper ones.  Well, you know what they say about assuming…

After reading lady clay’s comment about paper bags being just as harmful as plastic, I did a little internet sleuthing (a.k.a. typing it into Google) and discovered a plethora of data that supported her assertion.

Here’s the lowdown: While paper can be added to compost (unlike plastic), it requires a lot more energy to produce since it needs to be harvested from trees and it takes up a lot more space in our landfills.  This article from the Environmental Literacy Council sums it up nicely.

So, don’t be like me and assume that paper bags are any better for the environment than plastic.  Buy a few reusable bags and if any baggers give you a nasty look, just grin and bear it for a good cause.