Why Buying Locally Matters

Posted on December 7, 2011 by Russell Posted in Business Spotlight, Press | Leave a comment

Reposted from Flagpole

By: Jessica Smith

This holiday season, think outside the big box. If you choose to shop, make your gifts more meaningful by finding items that are truly representative of the community you’re a part of, not something that can be found on any shelf, in any town. Athens is unusual in that it’s home to a number of locally owned restaurants, bars and specialty shops. Yet, many of these independently owned establishments face the threat of being run out of business by corporate chains and the escalation of hyper-competitive online shopping. Keeping your favorite mom-and-pop shops around requires a conscious effort and faithful commitment to choosing to buy locally.
Read more

Activists want zoning change at Walmart site

Posted on December 6, 2011 by Russell Posted in Press | Leave a comment

Reposted from Online Athens. By: Blake Aued

Anti-Walmart activists say they want Athens-Clarke officials to change the zoning on a tract near downtown Athens to stop a big-box retailer from coming in.

A meeting Monday night on an Athens-Clarke Planning Department study of future growth on Oak and Oconee streets turned into a discussion of how to stop an Atlanta developer from including Walmart in a proposed mixed-use development just east of downtown.
Read more

Church at Springfield Baptist

Posted on December 4, 2011 by Russell Posted in Better Athens | Leave a comment

Great service this morning at Springfield Baptist Church with Pastor Jerry Alexander. This church is on 4th Street, very near the proposed 100,000 sq. ft. Walmart. Some parishioners were unaware of the project. Everyone I talked to after the service agreed that Athens can do better than bring a Walmart to their neighborhood that will pay poverty-level wages with no benefits and only employ people part-time. Keep up the good work everyone!

Monday Meeting, ACC Planning Department’s Oak Street and Oconee Street Corridor Study

Posted on December 4, 2011 by Russell Posted in Action Items | 1 Comment

Come out to this important meeting Monday, December 5 from 6 to 8 pm at the Oconee Street Methodist Church. The study is of special importance because it contains recommendations about HOW the land in this area should be developed.

From the ACC Planning Department website: Citizens are invited to review drafts of the documents, speak with Staff and comment on the corridor study for Oak Street & Oconee Street. There will be a brief presentation at the beginning of the meeting.

Please take this opportunity to learn more about what the city's own planning department has to say about development in this part of town! Take the initiative and urge our elected officials to listen to the ACC Planning Department recommendations!

Click here to download a copy of the study!

Canvassing in E. Athens

Posted on December 3, 2011 by Russell Posted in Action Items, Better Athens, Timeline | Leave a comment

People for a Better Athens went door-to-door in E. Athens on Saturday, December 3rd. Out of 37 people that we talked to (young, old, white, black) 31 signed our petition. The other 6 thought it did not matter if they spoke out. Almost everyone wanted a grocery store, but not a huge box store that will clog their neighborhood with traffic. It’s easy to support Walmart or not say anything. The true test is if you’re willing to stand up for the people in the neighborhood who have been left out of this whole process.

« Previous   1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12   Next »