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Dear Licensed Drivers of Georgia:

The law requires you to yield to emergency vehicles.  Really, I’m not kidding.  It says so in the official Code of Georgia, Annotated.

This means you, even if you decide that talking on your cell phone is too important or that you have to get your kids home from the sitter.  This means you especially when it’s not just one fire truck, but a fleet of them because there has been an explosion!

You, Dear Atlanta Driver, are just not that important.  You’re not.  If there is a police, ambulance, or fire truck blaring its siren at full blast repeatedly, they are not kidding.  Someone could be in danger, dying, or in a situation so terrible that you’d not want to imagine it.

When you don’t pull over to the side of the road, but rather stop dead in the middle so that you can still make your left turn, you could kill someone.  If someone were to die because you thought Jimmy just had to have a happy meal, you could be subject to a felony manslaughter charge and sent to jail for a long time.

Now some of you are thinking that this really doesn’t happen, however, it does.  People in Atlanta have forgotten that they’re supposed to get out of the way of emergency vehicles.  A parking lane or turn lane will be available for the mini-van driver to get out of the way and the driver, who is talking to her kids won’t; Nor the Lexus with the executive talking on his phone without a hands-free device.  They clogged the lanes.

It’s becoming all to common.  Yes, emergency vehicles are annoying…but only until you need one.

You would think that Real Estate developers would be a positive force in improving Atlanta architecture, but it just isn’t so.

Now, Ben Carter Properties wants to tear down the Buckhead Library and put up another condo tower.  The problem is that the Buckhead library is internationally recognized as a great piece of post modern architecture.  In fact, students and architecture fans have build fan sites about it.  It’s a tourism generator!  It’s Atlanta architecture that people want to visit and about which they want to write good things!

The library not only garners visitors, but it’s a pretty effective library.   Staffers are able to administer it, find it’s recourses, and give people information.  For a long time, it also have a great view of the city, making it an excellent contemplative space. That view has been substantially altered by a condo tower.

Now the developer, of course, promises that they will replace the library in their tower, but you know it would be as large or as effective.   Moreover, it will simply be part of a larger complex.  It will look a lot like another Carter Property, the Mall of Georgia.

Whether the library survives will say a lot about Atlanta.  We have a history of destroying good architecture.  Atlanta has long been the city to busy to preserve.   In recent years, there has been a claim that we’ve become much more cosmopolitan.

Choosing to preserve the library will prove it.  Choosing to tear it down, just means the power blonds still think that they can become cosmopolitan by drinking them.

There is good news and bad news.  The good news is that the State clearly understands the importance of Grady hospital and is committed to moving it toward a new management structure. 

 The bad news is that they seem intent on forcing Fulton and Dekalb county to continue to pay for it, whether they like the new agreement or not. 

It’s likely that the new agreement is in Fulton and Dekalb’s long term interests, but the state should not have to power to force the local tax payers to accept an agreement without approval of their county commissions. 

Both the Fulton County Commission and Dekalb County Commission have given the agreements to their legal departments for study.  Both want to act on the proposals in a timely fashion.  The legislature is pre-mature in trying to force the issue. 

It’s not as though the counties want to hospital to shut down.  What they do want is to be able to assure it provides the services each of the counties needs, that Doctors and other staff who live and are trained in Fulton and Dekalb continue to have access to working at the hospital, and that as stake holders, residents of the counties can influence how the system is managed. 

Grady sees nearly a million patients a year through it’s system.  It’s budget is nearly $700 million and over $100 comes directly from Fulton and Dekalb tax payers.  When you pay $100 million, your commission should get the read the proposals before the state intervenes.

Ever wonder why downtown isn’t teaming with clubs despite the hotel presence?  Ever wonder why no club survives very long in town?

The lack of places to play have been a big discussion among Jazz musicians in the Atlanta Jazz Forum and now a theory has been proposed.

Dan Turner is a local developer, builder, and piano man.  When presented with the scene of a woman who came downtown to hear Jazz and had a terrible experience, he began to delve into what went wrong: (These are editted excerpts from his post, which, in it’s original form is a little bit spicier)

“My time playing Atlanta started in  the very early 60’s when I was 9….playing in a few of the nightclubs that my father owned. I got into the circuit and hit his clubs as well as some of the joints that were within walking distance of each other. Sure…they were strip clubs; however for the 3 years that I played each weekend …jazzers were passed around from the Zebra, Domino, Club Peachtree and a host of others within a block or two of  each other. Going from one club to another, I saw a lot of familiar faces that were simply walking back and forth.

“In my opinion…and it extends back to those years playing with  really good players (and GREAT LOOKING EXOTIC DANCERS!!); now coupled with my role as a land planner…there are a few folks to blame for the fiasco in Atlanta:  Sam Massell, John Portman, & Tom Cousins.

“Massell picked up from his predecessor to “clean up Atlanta” by  closing down clubs by raising the dispensing fees. The Chamber of  Commerce gathered together with the powers to be and decided on John  Portman to devise a way to circumvent the sidewalks with the tunnels and tubes that deliver you away from the clubs on the street and right into the propietary clubs of the hotels. Ditto with Tom Cousins who was just the most fortunate guy to have MARTA wind up at his major complexes, and everyone else that went into the same mode of “cleaning up Atlanta” took something away from the night clubs that kept them alive …making a buck selling liquor.

“There was a lot to be said for a bar with a great band that all of a sudden had to be able to cook food. That ordinance wiped out the little hole in the wall joints….the same set up that thrives in New Orleans. There were ordinances enacted against Neon lighting. The distance between the bar stools and the stage. The decibel rating. Smoking/non-smoking designated square footage. Restrooms that had to meet a minimum square footage and then the ADA (Americans with Disability Act) that although a great thing…was not allowed to be grandfathered in for established businesses.

“It got to be too expensive to be in a business that the City wanted to see leave in order to make the place hospitable to Conventions.  The city [departments] were shaking down club owners and the Bud Turners, Chic Hendrix’s and Sam Jensen’s just closed shoppe.

“It’s still not a hospitable city… with the panhandlling and the blocks of no-mans land at night. The clubs and bars are found inside the complexes or within a $30 taxi ride from the center of the action…it’s just spread out and too thin.

“What little bit of fire that was there went away with a purpose. The jazz clubs have no competition…and sometimes human nature takes over with regards to how they would treat a customer since they were the only show in town…or walking distance to another Atlanta attraction. Or they’re not making enough to pay the help, talent, and nightly nut…so you’re getting anyone barely breathing to wait your table for minimums. Without the competition, there’s not much reason to improve…or if they’re already into the failure mode (which happens much too often), they’ve just given up.

“Atlanta had a great little complex at one time….Underground Atlanta…before Rouse. There were a half dozen player joints within sound of each other….I can remember many a tawdry Saturday AFTERNOON at the Apothecary watching Paul Mitchell and Neal Starkey, et all wailing away to a pretty full house. Tired of that? Walk across the street to Dante’s and then on over to Reds and a few other joints that the names don’t come apparent right now…and then start that circuit over again.

“Underground wasn’t a threat to Atlanta during the 60s and 70s..but they (whoever THEY were) decided to “fix it” anyway.  It’s a brave step every time someone opens a club to sponsor jazz players…but, foremost in mind, in order to keep that door open, they have to sell enough liquor. The players are almost always way down the food chain as to priorities, but it’s a huge investment to open a joint to meet all the codes and ordinances; pay the fees; get the final permit and then try to market with the leftover cash. Some places are doomed on opening night and everything that you described doesn’t make it that appealing for a return visit.

“Until a chosen few decided to “Clean Up Atlanta” and when they got rid of the clubs….they got rid of the talent and the incentives for future clubs.”
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It should be pointed out that to some degree, Massell did this same thing again a few years ago in Buckhead.  He wanted to chase the club owners out to make the area more attractive for the big condo towers that now dominate what was one of America’s best known party spots.  With the help of the City Council, he again succeeded in killing off lots of Atlanta nightlife.  Maybe, Massell likes money better than fun… Or at least he thinks if everyone has money they can afford to go have fun somewhere else.

Remember Mayor Franklin? Whatever happened to her? Is she hibernating? She’s Gone!

Sistah Mayah used to be everywhere! Openings, closings, luncheons, announcements, Beltlines, projects, schools, houses… heck if you asked nicely she’d meet you at a donut shop. Now she’s gone. She’s ‘Underground Shirley’, and like Underground she’s giving the impression that she is not doing very well.

Now, yes, I know her kids have been involved in some nasty
stuff, but it’s time for the Mayor to stop skiing and get back to being a leader for Atlanta. She can overcome any negative publicity her family may bring her by being the kind of Mayor she was in her first term!

Among the agenda items she should consider:

• Putting some muscle and the bully pulpit forward to keep the Beltline project moving forward
• Guarantee that by a date certain during her administration, all the city’s streets will be fully repaired and in excellent shape, at lease for one day
• Use the power of her office to get the Atlanta School Board to root out corruption while encouraging Atlanta students to study more math and science
• Push for a law requiring a public good requirement for all new construction. Can you imagine if every new building had a library, fire department or theater in it?
• Work with CAP/ADID to develop a plan to move AMTRAK back downtown and revitalize 5 Points in a meaningful way
• Develop a plan for affordable housing with adequate public safety for it.

Pick three. Accomplish three of these and Mayor Franklin’s second term will be well remembered, as opposed to now, where people are forgetting what she looks like.

People often say that HD Radio means nothing or that there isn’t anything new and different on those stations. In fact, it’s not true.

HD Radio is digitally broadcast radio which requires a decoder unit, but does not have a monthly subscription fee. In
Atlanta, several stations, though certainly not all, take advantage of HD broadcasting. Of Those, 5 stand out!

1. WABE All News: People have been begging for an all news outlet in Atlanta for years and now it’s here! They broadcast shows you never hear on regular WABE such as Tavis Smiley’s show and Day to Day. All News is 90.1 HD-3
2. WABE all Classical. If you’ve never heard classical radio is all digital before, you’re in for a treat. The notes are crisper and its good that WABE maintains a classical outlet for those interested. It would be great if this channel focused more on modern classical composers, but its great to have classical music on the airwaves. WABE Classical is 90.1 HD-2
3. WZGC Roots. This station does precisely what HD was supposed to do: give commercial stations the chance to program music currently unavailable. American Roots music flourished as an art in the 1990s in the wake of the efforts to recognize great American music pioneers and the over commercialization of art forms such as country that lost any connection to their original sound. It’s amazing to hear Gillian Welch, Plant & Krauss, and T. Bone Burnett on the radio! For the moment, this is commercial free, but that likely won’t last long. Still, just having something different to listen to is worth it. WZGC Roots is 92.9 HD-2
4. WVEE Neo Soul. Just as Dave FM looked at part of their niche market, so ‘The People’s Station’ looked at theirs and developed an all Neo Soul station for those who like newer music, but just are not in the mood for Snap. Plenty of Jill Scott, plenty of Maxwell, though a little more Michel Ndege Ocello would not hurt. 103.3 HD2
5. WVEE Simulcast of WAOK. One of the powers of FM is that at night, it does not decrease in power. For those stations which have virtually no nighttime AM presence, HD radio provides a great opportunity to expand their range! WAOK is Atlanta leading African American voice of talk radio in Atlanta. It’s an important voice, but after 6 P.M. it fades. Now the station has the chance to be heard and so to add voices. Giving more opportunities for people to speak their mind.

There are also HD opportunities which are not being realized. Here are a few ideas which various stations should consider:

• Local Music: Atlanta has a ton of musicians. We produce a ton of music in this town, but the amount of public exposure for locals on radio is not great. If stations create local channels, they’ll create loyalty and listeners.
• One of the Country stations should create a Celtic Channel. Anyone who has listen to the Thistle and Shamrock knows the diversity in Celtic music with country music’s roots in such music, a contemporary Celtic station would do well.
• Carry more sports on FM. Right now, if you like the Hawks and you live in Roswell, you can’t hear them on radio. Same with the Thrashers. Any one of the big FM stations could use the third HD channel to create Atlanta HD Sports and simulcast the games. They could also carry the Gwinnett Gladiators and college sports!

HD radio has not taken off as quickly as expected precisely because so many programmers haven’t the imagination to program new and different materials. Rather too many stations are just creating more opportunities to let more payola’d music hit the airwaves, and that’s pretty pointless. It’s just crap that sounds better.

WABE’s HD Radio News Stream is off the air. There is nothing in their website about this problem and it’s been off for several weeks. This is a troubling development. Ultimately, in a battle between news coverage and classical music, the news is going to win, but having an HD channel specifically for it was a great compromise.

Perhaps new staff have determined that the news broadcast was not important to members, but they’re wrong and the decision will come back to haunt them. They may also be fighting other fires.

Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting published a study which showed that WABE is among the least diverse stations in the country. With a listening audience that is very diverse, having only one daily host who is not white and no regular news and information programming focusing on the city itself is perhaps of more immediate attention.

Still, as the comments to various posts here have shown, people want the news and cutting off the HD stream is not going to help. WABE should return it to air as soon as possible.

What were they thinking? WABE, which had some momentum has just lost some with the release of their new schedule. Yes adding “The World” was a great thing, but lessening the number of days that ‘Fresh Air’ was carried is not the way. Moving ‘The Infinite Mind” and “Speaking of Faith” to 7 AM on the weekends when the number of people who are awake to hear it is significantly lessened is not the way.

Further, ‘My Word‘ is gone. Bundling it with ‘Says You‘ or ‘My Music’ would have made a lot more sense. It could have been coupled with ‘Studio 360′ and replaced the repeat of a ‘Prarie Home Companion’.

The Best Solution would simply have been to run Fresh Air at 2 P.M. and leave everything else in place. That would have meant losing an hour of music and that well may be the cause of the reluctance. However, the public seems to want the news programming. Moreover, there does not seem to be a well organized program to the classical music played in the afternoons. One solution to this would be to have an hour set aside each day to recordings of Atlanta Classical Music. Another would be to have an hour dedicated each day to serious music of the past 20 years.

In the mean time the new line up will make one element of the station more popular… the HD news Channel.

If there is one case that the Atlanta Police and Fulton County District Attorney’s Office has to handle it’s the case of the Cabbage Town Kidnappers.

If you’re not familiar with this, at 2:30 AM on July first, two attorneys from prominent legal organizations were kidnapped outside of a nightclub.  They were not freed until 15 hours later.  The names of suspects have not been released.

Nothing.  Absolutely nothing will shut off tourism and confirm white flight fears of downtown faster than kidnappings.  While it is horrible that this happened, and the kidnappers were just plain stupid to attack someone who worked with the Public Defenders Office, this is a chance at redemption for the police department.  Heaven knows they need it.

If the police get this case solved quickly and by the book, their reputation will be partially restored.  If they give the D.A. a case that is easy to prosecute that will help too.  The District Attorney then needs to make it very clear that kidnappers will swiftly receive the full impact of justice.

The Mayor, Convention and Visitors Bureau, and club owners then need to work together to make sure that this does not happen again.  That means more police at various clubs at all hours of the night.  It means that the police are going to have to work harder and smarter and may not be able to take as many side gigs.

So far, people have felt safe moving back into the city, but if another kidnapping happens, or if worse, one is successful, those condos will become very inexpensive very quickly and Real Estate Developers will egg on an already eager legislature to punish the city.

The Mayor specifically needs to get her hands dirty here.  She needs to find the money to hire more officers, pay them more, and make sure they’re not corrupt.  She then needs to publicly put pressure on Chief Pennington to make real changes and to cooperate with the Union.  She needs to get businesses to help with some support for officers and the families.  Then, we need the cop on every corner pledge.

Downtown, you need to always be able to see a police officer.  Chicago did this in the 1970s and it made a huge difference.  Literally, there was a cop on every block, all the time.  From Castleberry Hill to the Fox and from Centennial Park to the King Center, any should be able to simply say, “Excuse Me, Mr. Officer?” and get  immediate friendly help.

Do that and downtown booms.  Fail to do that, see one major crime happen, and the whole city will lose 20% of the its property tax value over night.

People regularly complain about MARTA and yet, given today’s road construction environment, it seems the smart choice at the moment.

The Georgia Department of Transportation and all the local counties have begun their annual round of construction projects.  Often, it seems the goal of these projects is to annoy and aggravate as many people as possible.  For example, what makes the idea of shutting I-75 down to one lane on a Friday afternoon even remotely sane?  The last time they did major work on the connector, they at least had the decency to do the major work in the middle of the night.  Doing the work during the day is bad enough, but on Fridays?  At Rush hour?  That’s just hate.

Regrettably, Georgia does not have a disparate impact law regarding construction projects that anyone is willing to enforce.  The value of people’s time needs to be considered in when and how construction is done.  It’s worth paying some extra money for the project if the overall impact to hundreds of thousands of people is lessened.  Further, there are tons of local problems that the equipment and day crews could be fixing while waiting for traffic to die down and do night time projects.  With the increase in Truck traffic from the Port of  Savannah, it’s only going to get worse.

MARTA, of course, is a great alternate, but if you have to drive, at least check Georgia Navigator before you go.

The DOT’s massive silliness does create one positive perversity effect… People who are now stuck in their cars an extra hour should want for transit.  The idea of taking a train, however, may not have occurred to them.  Hence, Gorilla action is warranted!

Imagine this:  Thousands of drivers are stuck and as they approach an overhead exit sign, a 3 foot by 1 foot sticker has been attached saying “If You’d Voted For Passenger Rail, You’d Have Been Home an Hour Ago!”   Wouldn’t that be a nice thought?