Fresh Loaf

The city’s Department of Watershed Management has released its annual Water Quality Report. A cursory glance shows that what’s flowing from your tap is suitable to drink.

From Commissioner Rob Hunter:

“The Water Quality Report continues to show the City’s commitment to clean water,” said Commissioner Rob Hunter. “We are proud of our system and of the employees who work diligently to make sure that we offer drinking water of the exceptional quality that our customers have come to expect.”

The report will be inserted into city water customers’ next bills. To view it before then, click here.

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This has absolutely nothing to do with Georgia, Georgia politics or anything related to Georgia. But you rarely see talk radio hosts called out for puttering out talking points of which they have no real knowledge.

Kevin James — no, not that Kevin James — appeared on Hardball to debate Mark Green of Air America. The Un-King of Queens parroted Pres. Bush’s supposed jab at Barack Obama comparing the presidential candidate’s expressed desire to meet with America’s adversaries to Former British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain’s appeasement of Adolf Hitler prior to World War II. Problem: James doesn’t seem to have any idea what Chamberlain did.

And Matthews rips into him for it. “When you are going to make a direct historic reference, get it straight,” he says. Cringeworthy and refreshing.

(Keep in mind that Matthews also makes a gaffe when he incorrectly says the U.S.S. Cole bombing occurred under Pres. Bush’s watch.)

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The Atlanta City Council may consider overriding Mayor Shirley Franklin’s recent veto of last week’s unanimous resolution that requests the city auditor conduct a review of the Department of Watershed Management, the municipal agency in charge of Atlanta’s multi-billion dollar court-ordered sewer project.

Councilmember Mary Norwood, who introduced the resolution, says the council must understand how money is being spent on the multi-billion sewer and water project before it votes on the first of five rate increases to help pay for the project. Officials have suggested a 27.5 percent rate increase, followed by other increases that would raise the rates 81 percent over the next four years.

“Before we impose on our citizens a fee increase we ought to know whether the controls are adequate,” Norwood says . “I believe we need oversight for a fund that’s almost ten times as large as the general budget.”

The mayor said she vetoed the resolution because she says the council did not confer with appropriate departments. Franklin categorized the resolution as “hastily drafted and adopted legislation,” adding it was “technically flawed” and “unacceptable.”

“There are some technical errors in the document, so we want to give the author the opportunity to work with law and others to correct those issues first,” Franklin said in a statement.

“The mayor has put into place this very large and very important water and sewer project for our city,” Norwood says. “She’s been the first mayor to tackle that. But I believe we need outside consultation before we raise fees. At the end of the day, whether it’s a fee or a tax, it’s money that’s coming out of our constituents’ pockets.”

Monday’s council meeting takes places at 1:30 p.m. at City Hall. Norwood expects a close vote. The City Utilities Commission will hold a public hearing on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. in Council Chambers to discuss the proposed rate increases.

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We kindly ask your forgiveness if we’re a little tardy with posts. Today marks the last day Gov. Sonny Perdue can sign or veto legislation, and as my colleague pointed out earlier, dude is on a roll.

We just received a copy of the items in the budget Perdue considers “unjustified” — or, the little things lawmakers want state money to pay for that make the governor boil with anger.

Like Speaker Glenn Richardson’s and House Majority Leader Jerry Keen’s pork projects.

The two Gold Dome bigwigs had their fingerprints all over a $5.2 million earmark aimed at improving landing strips back in their home districts. Paulding County Regional Airport — Richardson’s stomping grounds — would have received $4 million. The Glynn County Airport Commission in Keen’s neck o’ the woods would have received $500,000. The Cherokee County Airport Authority was slated to receive the remaining $700,000 of the earmarked funds.

And Perdue says nyet!

State funding for airports is currently determined in accordance with statewide priorities for air transport and is awarded on a competitive basis. Local communities are encouraged to seek funding from Airport Aid at the Department of Transportation ($23 million available in FY09) and the AirGeorgia program at the OneGeorgia Authority ($15 million available in FY09). Therefore, I veto the appropriation of $5,200,000 contained in this proviso.

Put a cold steak on those black eyes, gents. There’s more cash to be had next year!

All in all, Perdue’s cuts trimmed $14.2 million from the state budget. Maybe that could be used for those GRTA buses that are sorely needed because of rising gas prices? You know, like the $13 million that was earmarked for ‘em before the General Assembly cut the funds out? Just asking.

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I hope that Grant Park couple kept their receipts.

Gov. Sonny Perdue put the pen to the paper today and signed what one environmental lobbyist says is the first renewable energy bill with teeth that the state has seen.

HB 670, sponsored by Rep. Chuck Sims, R-Ambrose, would offer income tax credits for energy-efficient and clean energy purchases, such as solar, wind, geothermal and biomass energy for residential and commercial properties. Although the legislation favors the latter, it’s a big step toward enticing Georgians to pursue clean energy.

But like everything in Georgia, there’s no such thing as totally great news. The total tax incentive cap is tiny — $2.5 million per year — and the bulk of that could go to commercial properties who stand to benefit as much as $500,000 per solar installation. If five companies get five solar installations next year, then it’s kaput for 365 days. But something’s better than nothing, and this here is definitely something.

Among the benefits for homeowners are income tax credits up to $2,500 for solar thermal systems, up to $10,500 for solar equipment used for electricity and heating, and up to $10,500 for wind power. (Click here for a good take by CL Editor Ken Edelstein on what clean-energy system might be appropriate for your home.) Credits have also been approved for Georgians who invest in geothermal heat pump systems.

The incentives expire Dec. 31, 2012. Click here to view a simple description of the income tax credits offered.

Pam Davidson, an environmental consultant who is running for the soon-to-be-open seat on the PSC after Commissioner Angela Speir steps down, lobbied heavily for the bill along with Jason Rooks of the Georgia Conservancy.

For more information about HB 670, click here. Click on “Current version” for the legalese-laden ins-and-outs of the bill.

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In regards to the infamous YouTube video, MARTA has finally released a statement on the arrest of a female who allegedly verbally assaulted a fellow rail passenger.

Statement from MARTA Chief of Police Wanda Dunham:

MARTA police have arrested the individual who was allegedly involved in a verbal assault on a rail customer. A video of the incident, which MARTA police have determined occurred on March 10, 2008, was recently posted on the Internet. Nafiza Ziyad, 25, is being held in DeKalb County jail and has been charged with Simple Assault, two counts of Certain Acts in Transit and Disorderly Conduct. The arrest late Thursday, May 8, 2008 came after MARTA officials were able to interview the actual victim of the train harassment.

When this incident was brought to our attention, we immediately began tracking down any and all leads to ensure that this person was brought to justice. This arrest was the result of hard work and relentless follow-up by the Criminal Investigations Division of the MARTA police as well as invaluable tips and assistance from the public. MARTA is working closely with DeKalb County Solicitor-General Robert James to prosecute this individual to the fullest extent of the law.

I want to reiterate that this is an extremely isolated incident and that customer safety and security are our highest priorities. We regret that the many citizens who witnessed this incident did not utilize the emergency call button that is available in all rail cars to directly contact the rail operator or contact MARTA police so that we could have responded to this situation immediately. MARTA police officers regularly patrol the trains and are available at rail stations to provide assistance. Customers can also reach MARTA Police communications directly by dialing (404) 848-4911 or by pressing #MPD on any AT&T, Verizon, or Sprint/Nextel cellular phone. Blackberry users press #673.

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It’s like a dog park, only with bikes. Atlanta Bicycle Campaign and Central Atlanta Progress’ Downtown TMA are hosting a roundup for cyclists at Woodruff Park tomorrow from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. If it’s raining, meet up next Wednesday.

From the Downtown Connector:

BikeFest presented by the Atlanta Bicycle Campaign (ABC) and the Downtown Transportation Management Association (TMA): A three-hour outdoor event held in Downtown’s Woodruff Park. Meet cyclists, visit bicycle experts and win prizes. BikeFest is an event for everyone; cyclists and non-cyclists can learn more about biking and the benefits it provides and enjoy the opportunity to meet and mingle with fellow bikers.

When: Wednesday, May 14, 2008, rain date: Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Time: 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Where: Woodruff Park in Downtown Atlanta
Cost:FREE

In addition, ABC and the Downtown TMA will have raffle prizes including:

* A one night stay at the Ellis Hotel
* $50 Dailey’s/City Grill gift certificate
* $50 French American Brasserie (FAB) gift certificate
* $50 Maxim Prime gift certificate

To qualify you must come by the event and all winners will be announced and emailed the following day. Additional giveaways will also be on-site along with a free smoothie sample from the SoPo bike blender for patrons that bring their bike or bike helmet.

Participating Vendors include: Atlanta Police Department, City of Atlanta (Connect Atlanta Plan), Clean Air Campaign, Free Flite, Georgia Department of Transportation, Georgia State University, Bicycle attorney Ken Rosskopf, No Brakes, REI, SoPo Bike Cooperative, and more.

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William Earl Lynd was executed by lethal injection on May 6 in Jackson, Ga., 45 miles south of Atlanta. He was the first prisoner executed in the United States after the U.S. Supreme Court recently lifted a moratorium on the practice. Dean Poling, a journalist at the Valdosta Daily Times, witnessed and wrote about the event.

From his article:

These are among the last things William Earl Lynd sees.

A gathering of faces in the witness room. Most are strangers, official faces from the state Department of Corrections office. The faces of two of Ginger Moore’s relatives whom he may or may not have known on the front row. Witnesses include former Berrien County Sheriff Jerry Brogdon who took Lynd’s confession and former Alapaha District Attorney Robert Ellis who prosecuted the case against Lynd. He might recognize their faces if he sees them through the glass.

The faces he most likely recognizes are those of the prison’s personnel. Unlike most of the other witnesses, however, they do not look at Lynd.

Strapped to the gurney, Lynd can only move his head and his eyes. There are the uniformed correctional officers, six big men, who press against him to administer the straps. He is in a small room, the chamber, led their by the six officers from a connecting door. There is the window to the witness room. A ringed curtain conceals one wall of the chamber. Behind Lynd is a one-way glass where three officials will each press one of the three chemicals which will put Lynd to sleep, paralyze him then stop his heart.

Read the rest here.

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Don’t look for this story in That Other Paper or on any of the television networks in town save for Fox5 — it ain’t there.

Three months ago, Dale Russell, the station’s investigative watchdog, broke a story about the state Environmental Protection Division’s Carol Couch giving developers planning a Wal-Mart in Forsyth County a green light to build on top of a stream.

In doing so, Couch essentially overrode her own agency’s previous judgment, and left many people wondering if the decision wasn’t part of a deeper political powerplay by Gold Dome bigwigs aimed at convincing then-DOT Board Chairman Mike Evans — who was developing the big-box store deal — to cast the deciding vote that placed Gena Abraham at the helm of the state transportation agency. Evans and Abraham later revealed they fell in love after she took the job. Evans resigned, Abraham stayed, c’est la vie, oobla di, oobla da, that’s amore.

Dedicated government gadfly George Anderson, of nonprofit one-man watchdog group Ethics in Government Group, filed complaints Friday about those scandals with the state inspector general against the EPD, DOT officials and Gov. Sonny Perdue. Anderson’s filed more than 300 such complaints and even questions the inspector general if she’ll act on them.

For a quick rundown of the details, view Russell’s report here.

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U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., unveiled a seven-point energy plan Friday that may seem elementary at first, but at least he’s thinking out loud. He and a Democratic colleague say they will work together to develop a formal proposal that they will deliver to the next president.

From the article linked above, the senator’s aims:

• Supporting plug-in electric vehicle development, including “smart metering” by utilities that would allow cheaper rates for overnight battery charging.

• Making solar power cost competitive with fossil fuels, with the promise of solar thermal power plants.

• Making biofuels cost competitive with gasoline, particularly ethanol from cellulosic materials.

• Making more new buildings energy efficient.

• Developing systems to capture and store carbon emissions from coal-fired power plants.

• Developing ways to safely reprocess and store nuclear waste — the “most important breakthrough” needed to support more nuclear plants.

• Continuing research on nuclear fusion.

Each bulletpoint raises numerous questions.

If we replace today’s fuel-efficient fleet with electric vehicles — which Alexander suggests we charge during the night when rates have historically been low — how many power plants are we going to need to provide all that round-the-clock electricity? How will the electricity needed to operate those vehicles be generated?

Making new buildings more energy efficient is considered one of the best ways to reduce your carbon footprint and make the most of what you already have, but how do you make it affordable or enticing for people to do so?

Nuclear power, while it doesn’t contribute to global warming, has plenty of opponents because of its heavy use of water, high cost and potential danger to the environment.

But at least Alexander’s got ideas which could spark a little debate. I’ve yet to see a Georgia lawmaker mention anything along these lines.

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Sturgess Fillmore, “Atlanta’s most famous governor,” the city’s favorite son and the uncredited inventor of the zipper, presents … ATLANTA!

The film, conceived and shot in less than 50 hours, placed first in the 2008 Rapid i Movement Film Competition. For more info, check here.

(Thanks to Joeventures for the wonderful find.)

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