From Monday’s AJC…

Kecia Cunningham, Decatur’s second ever African-American commissioner, said Monday she’s concerned about the recent census revealing a diminishing minority population.

It’s particularly dramatic in Decatur’s southwest corridor that’s gone from 70 percent minority and 30 percent white in 2000 to a 70-30 white-minority ratio in 2010. “We are basically losing our long-time African American neighborhoods,” she said. “We are a city that’s long prided itself on diversity, yet when the rubber meets the road, we’re not living up to that promise. We’re becoming more of a homogenous middle-class city.” Bill Banks for the AJC

Thanks to Karass for pointing it out!

Greg sends along this press release…

The Decatur Farmers Market is pleased to start its second year of offering a gathering space that supports organic, local, and sustainable foods in Georgia on Saturday mornings. On Saturday, June 11 from 9am-1pm, the Market will celebrate with live music by the always popular Decatur Ukulele Society, face painting, and other activities. Residents can comfortably enjoy the two new picnic tables under the shaded magnolia. For those who travel on two wheels, a bike rack has been recently installed for your convenience. Four wheelers have plenty of free parking in the Calloway Building lot at the corner of Trinity Place and Commerce Dr.

This Market provides the Decatur community with the opportunity to buy from and speak directly with the local farmers and food producers who offer goods produced by sustainable methods. Maria and Joel from Café Campesino Atlanta will have their organic coffee, iced tea and famous scones and muffins. Cool off with a frozen delight from the King of Pops and The Pop Shop. Be prepared to go home with fresh nutritious local produce from our awesome farmers. Sample the Market delights prepared by LEONs sous chef Robert Lupo. The Market will have recyclable bags to purchase if you forget your own, new t-shirts and insulated reusable tumblers.

Read the rest of this entry »

Stoveworks, Atlanta (pic submitted by Daren)

Here’s something I probably should have mentioned before the Mayor’s casual “corking fee” observation post yesterday.

On Monday, the Decatur City Commission set up two maps in their meeting room at City Hall.  One showed two voting districts (both alike in dignity) with three areas moved from the northern district into the south to abide by the “one person/one vote” law, and the other a five-district map – one for each commish – that cobbled together a majority minority district.

Now I couldn’t see the five-district map, but Commissioner Cunningham made reference that it looked a bit like Fulton County, and that the borders didn’t really make as much sense as the current North/South split.  She even went so far as to say that the five-district sorta felt like “gerrymandering”, and that if/when the U.S. Justice Dept. called her about the redistricting – since she’s the only minority race commissioner – she would wholeheartedly endorse the two district map.

At the end of the discussion, the Commission voted unanimously in favor of the two district map.  Now, per the Fed, the City Commission must vote TWICE on the new maps, giving the public time to voice its opinion.  So they will vote again on the maps next week.