Morning Metro: Boosters Food Decision, Little Free Libraries, and Separated Bike Lanes
Decatur Metro | August 28, 2012
- Decatur Boosters won’t sell Chick-Fil-A at sporting events [Patch]
- Little Free Libraries popping up around Atlanta [SaportaReport]
- Popeye’s Joining “Poultry Party” around N. DeKalb Mall [TNT]
- “Black Friday” specials at DeKalb Animal Shelter [AJC]
- Emory: No need to review grad school data [AJC]
- The case for separated bike lanes [Atlantic Cities]
Photo courtesy of Book Festival Little Free Libraries auction site
Latest from Decaturish
What is Emory hiding?
Probably the fact that I went there and they actually gave me one of those graduate degrees
Yep.
Stop agreeing with me. Instigator…
master baiter
Probably a lot, and they’ve already shown that they’re pretty good at hiding things…at least for a decade or so.
Regarding bike lanes, I learned from a very kind driver that following the gutter of a road while cycling doesn’t mean bikes are allowed on the street. He demonstrated for me, once he managed to pass my extremely wide road hog of a bicycle, how his car tires fit better in the gutter and the “thunk” of his mirror on the residential mail boxes acts as his proximity warning sensor for making a wide left turn from a residential street to a four-lane road. Guess I won’t be riding my bike in my neighborhood any more, cause he taught me a lesson!
A little venting, but seriously like the addition of at least striped bike lanes in the city limits. I’ve been riding my bike more for the quick trips into town, grocery shopping, etc. and plan my routes to use the available bike lanes.
Part of one of my commutes includes about a half mile on E. College as a 4-lane. I used to ride as far over to the right as possible so that cars could get around me, but no more. The cars have come so close to me–many do not even bother to slow down much less go around me–that it takes my breath away. Last week a car sped past me so closely that I actually sort of screamed, i was so scared. So now I ride in the middle of the right lane. In order to get around me, the cars must take into account the traffic in the next lane over, and therefore are more careful because they won’t drive into another car. Sorry, drivers, I’m not trying to be an arrogant cyclist…I’m just trying to stay alive.
I would bet money some of those are the same drivers that insist on giving a parked car on a residential street at least a 6-foot berth, driving for nearly a block in the oncoming lane.
Excited about the prospect of having a Popeye’s in relatively close proximity, and one that spares me from having to hit the sketchy one on Ponce, where both my well-being and my father’s were threatened on separate occasions by other patrons of that establishment when we dared try to eat inside.
There is one on Memorial
+1,000. Popeyes is the best fast food fried chicken bar none! This is closer to me than the memorial (sketchy) or clairmont locations. Yippee
Oh gosh, me too! But I am going to get SO. FAT. The only thing currently keeping me from devouring Popeye’s multiple times a week is the lack of one in close proximity or, even worse, directly along my commute. At least this one isn’t on the way home from work! I’d be doomed.
I am proud of the DHS Boosters! Unfortunately, it appears that College Heights will continue with the occasional Chick Fil A promotion. They do not want to “discriminate”. How ironic.
What exactly is it that your proud of them for? They said they made a business decision that had nothing to do with the gay marriage controversy, so I must assume that you’re either proud of them for having good business sense or that you think they really made their decision for other reasons, which would be calling them liars, which really wouldn’t be anything to be proud of.
grrrr… your=you’re
I just think it is great they didn’t just cave to pressure not to stick with Chick Fil A. I know there was some and some people are going to take this as a slap whether it was meant to be or not. The superintendent is messaging strongly to some that this shouldn’t be about politics. I wonder if she would feel the same way if Chick Fil A supported groups that promoted racial discrimination. Very disappointed in the superintendent’s stance actually.
I have no first hand knowledge of what’s being said but I hope that discrimination is not being confused with politics.
Look at CSD’s statement on Patch:
We’d like for our community to know that City Schools of Decatur has a strong non-discrimination policy and a long history of inclusiveness of all children and families. While we support the rights of parents and teachers to voice their opinions, it is not within the purview of the school system to make political statements using school system resources.
I knew this would happen and the hypocrisy of it is so incredible that it makes me laugh. Chik-Fil-A is the ONLY major food chain in the country that is closed on Sunday. What other stance would you expect them to have on same-sex marriage?
The timing of this “business decision” is at best convenient but more likely cowardly. EVERYONE knew their stance on same-sex marriage, so is the bigger issue that the stance was tacitly supported due to love of the peach milkshake and now it’s been brought to light and u feel “dirty?” C’mon folks, we need to grow up.
I equate it to people who eat at Maurice’s BBQ in SC (notorious for flying the Confederate Flag at every store and the billboard photos of all-white suit, tie and shoe wearing Maurice) and are suddenly “surprised” when a non-profit they donate to advances/ supports racial discrimination. Really…Really?
Based on this comment as well as your other comment below, you seem to be making the argument that I’ve heard a lot since this CFA brouhaha began – that we probalby wouldn’t be able to make any purchase with a clean conscience if we knew what went on behind the the curtains everywhere.
The simple reality is that most consumers, myself included, simply don’t have the time or inclination to research every detail, from manufacture to sale, prior to every purchase. That said, when I know better, I will make the best choice that I can make for myself. I continue to be surprised by how ALLCAPSreally?really?IRRITATED people seem to be at people make those individual choices.
I do thank you for the information re Maurice’s. Having only eaten at an actual Maurice’s establishment as a kid and remembering that the sauce was good, I have purchased the bottled sauce when I stumbled across it at the grocery. Upon reading your comment, however, I did a little consult with Mr. Google and am satisfied that this is not a business that I will continue to support in the future.
I can definitely respect your opinion.
My “really…really” is just at the notion that people didn’t even have an inkling re: their views. Like this came from no where and people were caught off guard. Especially people who are either from here or have been exposed to Chik-Fil-A for any extended period of time.
IMO for most it’s a rush to not seem bigoted, when u already had an idea about their views. And once this news cycle is over, for most it will be back to business as usual. For me, the question is what will the Decatur Boosters do next year? If they go back to Chik, then IMO they are at best disingenuous.
Well, the issue to me personally with Chick fil A is twofold.
1. It’s a completely private corporation, not a public corporation with an independent board. The stores are owned by the company and only managed by the local operators. The stores are not independent franchises where the franchisees take most of the profit. Any opinion expressed by a Cathy family member reflects straight back to the local level, and most of any dollar you spend returns directly to corporate.
2. I had actually heard that Dan Cathy was not as extreme as his father. I admit I didn’t investigate because I heard it from a trusted friend in the philanthropic community. So while I didn’t go to Chick Fil A for a long time, I had eased off because of what I had heard. No more.
+1 Most of us don’t have the ability as individuals to research and take on every injustice in the world but we do what we can when we can.
I didn’t have an inkling that the Chik-Fil-A ownership structure was different from most fast food franchise organizations, that Cathy donates money directly to anti-gay marriage causes, or even that “gay rehab” causes still exist. Not knowing much about the Cathy family, I didn’t just assume the worst about them because their stores are closed on Sunday.
Then the news came out, and now I know.
If that makes me an evil, hypocritical little Eichmann in your eyes, so be it.
You know, I really like what you are saying in your first paragraph. I think that reflects pretty much how a lot of people feel/think about this and why the reaction has been so strong. Thanks.
Speaking of hypocrisy – you are basically saying that any religious-minded person/organization should be automatically branded as bigoted. I think there’s a word for your type of thinking. It’s on the tip of my tongue.
I also like how you’re here criticizing people who are not bigots (DBB) and who decided not to support bigots (the Cathys). Yeah, right, the DBB are the bad guys here.
I’ve stayed out of the Chik-Fil-A fray around here, but your post was so astoundingly horrific that I had to reply.
Side Note – Has an extensive study been done into the donation patterns of Dairy Queen? IJS. If that’s the standard, we may all have to eat from home.
Regarding the black Friday event at DeKalb Animal Shelter, we saw this anti-black stupidity at FurKids when we adopted our two black kitties. Shelters have the hardest time finding homes for these pets. How anyone can turn down that beautiful, silky black coat on a loving animal is completely beyond me. F$#&ing superstitious morons. And for those who claim they aren’t superstitious but want a pet to match the furniture – you’re too shallow and self-centered to even HAVE a pet.
Sorry for the rant…this is a pet peeve of mine (pun intended).
I agree that the anti-black discrimination is stupid. That’s why I hate all cats equally.
In all seriousness, though, we purposely adopted black mutt mixes because we knew that they were the least likely to be picked by someone else. Our newest addition may be yellow in color but as a ten year-old, heartworm and tumor ridden, abandoned old lady, I’d say she fits right in.
You really shouldn’t talk about yourself that way, li’l dude.
I don’t know…a black cat crossed my path yesterday and today it’s raining. Just sayin’.
They’re just too difficult to photograph. I can’t put up with that kind of hassle.
Ditto on the photo challenge. But there’s another thing. If you already have other-colored pets (e.g., brown, or white) you have already grown your wardrobe around hiding that particular animal hair color [this can also apply to upholstery and flooring choices!]. Throw in a different pelt and things get complicated all over.
So IMO, what you need is to start a “make your first pet a black pet!” and that will create an adoption color scheme vortex that can last for decades.
Genius!
Three black kittehs in our household. One of them came from Furkids, and he’s the sweetest boy.
Little black kitteh crossed our path on little fog feet
There’s crows flying beside my window
We left superstition on the roadside a few cities ago
They spent our souls, maybe, but they didn’t take our smiles
O long Johnson!
Are you REALLY sure that is what you meant to post?
Black is beautiful! I had no idea that black shelter animals are adopted less frequently. Honestly never gave it a thought. We adopted a beautiful little terrier mix girl. She was beautiful and a joy. Sadly,she is no longer with us and it’s true, the camera just couldn’t capture her beauty.
https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/403438_325244634220385_731414495_n.jpg
Furkids at PetsMart on Ponce.
That picture simultaneously supports my point (black kitties are beautiful) and disproves Keith’s (you CAN take a good picture of a black animal, although I do admit it’s quite a challenge). Well done, Mr. Fats!
I’m still just so sad I don’t have a good picture of my baby Samantha. How many times I wound that pocket instamatic with my left thumb trying to get a good shot just to be disappointed when my prints came back from the drug store. Not everything in the 70’s was so great…but that black lab meant the world to me.
Thank you. That’s our boy Orpheus as he was waiting to go home with me as I was filling out his adoption papers at Petsmart last year. He’s a delightful cat, and he shares our home with two more black cats, a tortoiseshell and a gray and orange tabby.
What a sad day, for the Decatur Sports Boosters and every other school organization that would benefit from the good will of Decatur Chick fil A. The threats and intimidation will not stop here. It will continue until every school group and student club signs a pledge not to associate with this company.
Very Sad! Decatur Chick fil A will not suffer one bit but the CSD kids will, with less money for student activities. Worst of all is the ammunition for the haters, and it won’t stop with the schools.
Not sad at all to me. Considering that “the DBB sought and received bids that beat Chick-fil-A’s”, I don’t see how this leads to “less money for student activities.” On the other hand, the real “ammunition for the haters” seems to me to be the bigoted and backwards words and actions of groups who actively seek to deny basic civil rights to a segment of society while falsely couching their crusade in religious terms. But then again, maybe I just misinterpreted that whole “love thy neighbor” thing.
Exactly what are you using as a basis for your argument? The district made a business decision, unless you know of some super secret backstory that the rest of us don’t. Who exactly are these haters of which you speak? The ones who, shutter at the thought, try to convince people that outright discrimination is wrong? I’m so tired of supposedly religious people constantly playing the part of the victim. Are there groups armed with millions of members and millions of dollars aimed specifically at harming you? Has a kid in your church ever committed suicide because others made fun of his religion? I’ll bet not but how many kids in just this past year have been hurt because “religious” people tell them they’re evil and dirty and could just change if they pray hard enough. These are the groups that Chik-Fil-A supports.
You can’t be fired for being a member of a certain religion but you sure can be fired just for being gay. No one is out to stop your religion, no one honestly cares what you do with your religion. We only get angry when you take your religious “morality” and try to thrust it onto the rest of us. It’s sad that these groups have made me afraid of anyone who claims they’re a “Christian.” I’m afraid because I can only assume that the person wants me to tell my kid that we’re not equal to the “normal” families and his Dads are going to Hell. That’s the world that these groups promote. Nice huh? I guess you’ll call me a hater.
I agree with your sentiment, but you could remove “religious” from “We only get angry when you take your religious “morality” and try to thrust it onto the rest of us”, and the statement applies to just about anyone from all sides of any argument, including the anti-Christian left. I could list numerous examples from discussions on DM the last few months, but I won’t because (i) I don’t want to start a shitstorm and (ii) those examples aren’t as egregious as this case. But it isn’t just Christians who think they are holier than thou.
Of course you’re absolutely correct that there are folks from all walks with bad attitudes. But I do think I understand where New Scott is coming from. I have not heard a single compelling “case” against the extension of civil and human rights to gays that doesn’t boil down to the attempt to impose one’s religious world view on others.
We are in complete agreement.
Here is an interesting, yet unfortunate, development regarding gay marriages. We have a friend who works for a national company that provides “spouse” benefits to same sex partners. But, they have changed their policy in states where gay marriage is permitted so that you have to be married to get the benefits. Ultimately I think it is the right approach (same rules apply to everyone), but our friend is understandly not happy about it and feels like he is being forced to get married. I don’t agree with him, but I kept my mouth shut.
I’m not sure if you’re trying to find an odd example but if EVERY state had equal marriage rights for everyone, then of course you’d have to actually be married to get the benefits. It’s exactly because there are “civil unions” in some places and no rights at all in others that causes the ambiguity and confusion. If your friend lives in a state that has equal marriage (good for him!) then I don’t see why he’s angry that the benefits are for married people.
I also don’t know about the “anti-Christian” left. I don’t know anyone who is saying you can’t have whatever beliefs you want. You just can’t (or shouldn’t be able to) push your views of morality onto the law… including Sunday alcohol sales! What a silly law that is.
“that doesn’t boil down to the attempt to impose one’s religious world view on others”. This is why I get pissed off every single time I try to buy a beer on the golf course before 12:30 on Sunday. Why not 12:30 on Tuesday? or Thursday? But since I am supposed to be in church at that appointed hour, I guess my punishment is not buying a beer. (The silver lining is that I am smart enough to bring my own).
I want my kid to know his friends with two moms or dads are normal.
And this will eventually hurt Chick Fli A. More and more people understand everyday that what they advocate is wrong and discriminatory. They will have to change or go out of business. I hope when they are grown, my son and daughter can feel as protective of equal rights and protection under the law for their gay and lesbian relatives and friends the way most of us feel protective of rights and access for racial/ethnic/gender groups.
IMHO, lots of exposure does the trick. Thanks to daycare, school, sports, activities and living in Decatur, my children have been interacting closely with two-Mom and two-Dad families since they were infants. They have been similarly exposed to divorced, single parent, black, white, Asian-American, Hispanic, mixed race, biracial, foreign-born, U.S. born, families. They find it weird that anyone opposes any kind of loving family. Hence the Chick Fil A discussion took awhile.
I’ve got an in-law branch that was not very open to people different from them…..until one of them married someone from Peru with a huge number of family members. Now there’s tons of Spanish spoken at Thanksgiving. Exposure to nice people and good food overcomes a lot of prejudice.
This is exactly why I love Decatur.