A recent Emory Wheel article that points out that three members of Emory’s upper-echelon rank among the top 10 highest paid private university employees in the country.

The article seems to imply that these highly paid Emory execs should take some kind of pay cut, symbolic or substantial, while the university works through the current economic crisis.

Thanks to xokyditive for pointing out the article!

Wheatley points out that House Resolution 201, which proposes a 1-cent statewide sales tax for transportation uses (not to be confused with the Senate bill that allows counties and regions to implement a local 1-cent tax), includes a project that just makes me want to type really unpleasant words in no specific order.

Subterranean highways. Under neighborhoods like Va-Hi, Morningside, East Atlanta, Midtown, Cabbagetown.

Yep! Just like the Big Dig! The same Big Dig that’s cost is forcing Massachusetts to raise its gas tax to the highest in the nation so it can attempt to offset an impending $19 billion deficit? Yep! That’s the one!

In a moment of economic crisis, when the state is already $3 billion over-budget, the suburbs are suffering from foreclosures and inefficiencies, and our transportation infrastructure is the laughing stock of the world, the State legislature is considering funding not just another highway, but a highway of outrageous cost with no proven benefits!

Obviously this project has little chance of ever getting off the ground, but this is the sort of geez-whiz, “that would be so cool!” thinking that scares the crap out of me. Please for the love of God keep the 1-cent sales tax transportation money out of State hands. Let the local gov’ts decide.

Over on his blog, Mayor Floyd recaps discussions at the city commission’s recent annual retreat with staff and talks about the city’s challenges in the coming year/s.

Not surprisingly, the economy is top-of-mind right now and the mayor hints that we may need to start making cutbacks in our budget, even though we’re currently in pretty good shape.

In addition to that, he highlights four key issues that “will consume a majority of the hours available” in the coming year.

Its the mayor, so its obviously must-read.

h/t: InDecatur

Carl forwards the announcement…

The Seen Gallery will celebrate its “grand reopening” with a group show featuring painting, photography, sculpture, ceramics, etchings, hand-blown glass and limited edition prints on Saturday, March 7 from 7 to 10 p.m. in its new spacious location in Downtown Decatur. Guests are invited to enjoy cocktails and hors d’oeuvres while exploring the new space and viewing various works from The Seen Gallery’s diverse pool of artists.

The Seen Gallery is reopening in the former T-Mobile and Two Stix spaces in the Townsquare Condos along Church St.

To Our Friends and Supporters,

We wanted to take a moment and express our sincere thanks for the many wonderful donations made to the 5th Earl Market Employee Fund. To put it mildly, we are all floored by the generosity that has been shown.

When we opened our business back in March of 2007, we knew that Decatur and the surrounding neighborhoods were filled with great, community-minded people and we hoped to be accepted as part of the neighborhood. During our time in business, and especially during this difficult period, the people we have come to know not as just customers but as friends have shown all of us how incredibly lucky we are to be part of a great community that truly looks out for one another.

Thank you so much for being there for us. We look forward to the time when we can be there again to serve all of you.

Sincerely,

The 5th Earl Market Team

Can’t wait for the reopening!