As the next step in the Decatur Strategic Planning process for the next 10 years, the city of Decatur is hosting four “Community Academys” starting next Tuesday, which will take all of our open-ended, hypothetical ideas from the roundtables and pit them against each other in an all-out fight to the death.

• Walkability?  Meet bikeability and traffic management!
• Aging in place??  Meet density concerns!
• A well-funded school system and grudgingly accepted higher taxes?  Meet the desire for a “diverse” community!

Oh yes, this is where the truly ugly magic happens.  For those of you who turned to your reusable, organic vomit bags after all the sky-pie you were forced to consume during the roundtables, this messy – and yet thoroughly productive – exercise IS FOR YOU!

“Yeah, yeah.  Shut up man and give us the dates!”  OK, OK.  From DecaturNext…

• Going Mobile: Managing Transportation Choices • Tuesday, October 5
• Decatur For Life: Aging in Place, Affordability, Diversity • Monday, October 25
• The New Main Street: Economics of the Complete Community • Thursday, November 4
• Getting the Love We Want: Understanding Development Issues • Wednesday, November 17

All sessions are from 7-9p and you should RSVP at 678.553.6584 if you’d like to participate.  Need I exaggerate more?