The State of Things – 2010 Edition
Decatur Metro | January 27, 2010The DNO e-pub put its nose to the grindstone and turned around two articles from last night’s State of the City and State of the Schools addresses at the Decatur Business Association meeting.
According to the DNO, school board chair Valarie Wilson highlighted the ongoing struggle with the state over school funding and relayed ways in which the school system has made advancements on the five key points of its strategic plan.
Mayor Bill Floyd then took to the stage, highlighting the city’s strong financial position in a tough economic climate, the ongoing effort to “get into the urban gardening business this year”, and the upcoming 2010 Strategic Plan.
Money, food, parking, zoning!? It’s enough to make a local news junkie drool with glee.
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I’m still a little confused about the whole “urban gardening business” thing. I’m all about going organic, local, slow food, etc. And I also understand the Farm to School program and support it. And also think the idea of opening up city property for urban gardening is a good idea (like on 2nd Ave in Oakhurst) as is public education programs on urban farming, etc.
But how much more does the City intend to be getting into the “business” of “gardening?” Is the City going to actually be the farmer and the retailer for agricultural products? Who is going to be involved in this?
Beyond allowing citizens, the schools, and local businesses access to property to grow their own food, is agriculture really a municipal function that we want our city leaders and staff focusing their attention and resources on? Will it take away any resources for essential municipal functions like public safety?
I’m not against the idea, I just have some questions as to what it really means and hope someone can fill me in.
Well, the Methodist Home land is not actually in the City of Decatur so I’m not sure what’s going on with that. I have heard from not necessarily reliable sources that this is a back door way to eventually annex the Methodist Home (aka LOTS of new CSD students without additional property taxes to pay for them). I would hope that we will get some official commentary on it eventually b/c I’d rather not rely on rumor.