[Do you think Rachel Ray might know how to balance a budget?]

1. The AJC has a report on a poll saying that metro voters would pay higher sales tax for more public transport.  We have a better idea, how about apportioning some of the already existing state transportation budget to methods of transportation other than roads.
2. Creative Loafing has details on the impending city budget cuts and tax hike.  Shirley Franklin - at midnight she turns back into Bill  Campbell.
3. Bloglanta talks Castleberry Hill.
4. How can you tell Forsyth is the new Gwinnett County?  They are getting an AMC Movie Theatre.  Colonial 18 4-eva yiggity yo.

[Not republicany enough?]

1. The AJC takes a pessimistic view on the Beltline’s future, despite whatever nonsense is flowing from the Mayor’s office.
2. Everyone is gunning to take down newly elected Athens area U.S. Representative Paul Broun. Peach Pundit with the details.
3. Sad architectural news from CL. Don’t worry the Buckhead Library is still standing.

[Try the ceviche, brah!]

1. Former Duke HC and Georgia Tech LB Ted Roof has caught on as Defensive Coordinator at Minnesota.  We suggest Roof avoid any kool-aid offered by Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delaney.  ESPN with a less biased account of this transaction between universities.
2. CL’s restaurant blog-type-thing says that a Maxim restaurant is opening at the Glenn Hotel.  I was so excited about our potential hotel bar scene.  A press release says the restaurant will be an “intelligent steakhouse for intelligent people.”  I am confused as to why Maxim wouldn’t target the restaurant towards its readers.
3. Dekalb is actually doing something about water use.  Unlike our-leaky toilet having-selves.  AJC comes with it.
4. Brick Store is getting some love from Forbes.  It was named as one of the top ten beer bars in the nation.  inDECATUR with a Forbes quote containing some backhanded southern stereotypes.
5. One billion for an airport, but nary a cent for public transportation.  We still think the terminal is a net good.  ATLBizChronic feels the flow.
6. Tondee’s has the Kasim Reed for Mayor announcement.  This mayoral campaign will be interesting.  Hold your race cards tight everyone.

[An artist’s rendering of the new GSU dorms.]

1. Good to know that pointless transportation projects are still set to all systems go.  The Mag Lev train between Atlanta and Chattanooga is still on according to one Chattavegas paper.  Sorry Gwinnettians, nothing but traffic and teeth grinding for you.
2. According to the AJC, Billy Knight thrice attempted to fire Mike Woodson.  Way to keep family matters out of the street.
3. Rich Midtown denizens may want to turn away at this point.  AroundMidtown has some pictures of the Piedmont Park parking deck.
4. We have some sad restaurant closing news.  Snellville favorite Little Gardens is closing this Sunday.  For a long time it seemed as though this was the only restaurant in Gwinnett not called Chili’s.
5. Decatur Metro reports that a new bookstore called Blue Elephant is opening in the Decatur area.  But will they treat me as snarkily as the folks at A Capella do?
6. Georgia Sports Blog has the full Knowshon 2007 highlights.  Any guess as to the soundtrack?
7. While H&M struggles to get its first store launched in Atlanta, it announces plans for two more.  The Swedish retail chain plans on adding stores at Mall of Georgia and Town Center. (-7 Hip Points)
8. CL has info on the 2008 Atlanta Film Festival.
9. GSU is adding more student housing.  Atlanta Business Chronicle with the straight dope.  This round includes fraternity houses.  They will regret this decision in 5, 4……

After a flurry of articles about how the Georgia Supreme Court’s decision will affect the highly anticipated and highly popular Beltline, there has been a relative silence. Without the TAD money there is little chance this project can go forward. Nobody seems willing to admit that this is the case.

[Too bad this old bastard gave all his money to Vandy. Mayor Franklin could use it.]

An excellent Los Angeles Times article suggests that the mayor is interested in finding alternative funding from private and philanthropic sources. We guess these would be the same public slash philanthropic partners the city has been begging for Symphony Center money to no avail. That is $500 million project, the Beltline has an estimated cost of $8 billion. [Read more →]

[We want more train stations like Madrid’s in Atlanta.]

1. A bill that would allow MARTA rail service to operate more easily in suburban counties has passed the Senate. Kudos to Senator Curt Thompson of Norcross for working on legislation aimed at real problems. Atlanta Business Chronicle has more info.
2. CL talks about some beer dinners at Brick Store and Twain’s. It looks pricey, yet well worth it.
3. AroundMidtown has some interesting pictures from the W Hotel.
4. If you have a cool $2 million you can pick up this piece of Atlanta’s architectural history. No, it’s not the Buckhead Library.
5. Decatur Metro has found an interesting piece from the Atlantic about the future of our sprawling areas. IF YOU ONLY CLICK ONE LINK IT SHOULD BE THIS ONE.

[The owner of Aaron’s thinks this is ugly.  We think the business of exploiting poor people through high interest rates is ugly.]

1. Get ready for another year of arguments about how much blanket space a person is allowed to save at the park.  Screen on the Green has been moved to Centennial Park.  AJC with more info.
2. Conservatives are bragging about McCain’s leads in Georgia of 8 and 7 points over Obama and Clinton, respectively.  It doesn’t seem all that awesome when you consider that Bush won by 17% just four years ago.   Georgia Politics Unfiltered has slightly more details.
3. El Bar, the not-so-secret yet secret bar located underneath El Azteca is closing its doors on February 29th.  This would be a brilliant ploy to make the bar less popular (and thus, more secrety).  CL with some coverage.
4. Post Northwest merger Delta will remain in Atlanta according to Peach Pundit.  Sorry Minnesota, you will have to console yourself with your superiority in both curling and speed skating.
5. Kudos to Jay Bookman for explaining why the new transportation is bad for Metro Atlanta.  But we need that bill for the Dooling (population: 168) Bypass.
6. Georgia Sports Blog talks about the measures UGA Athletics has taken to minimize the number of Tennessee fans inside Stegeman for tomorrow’s game.  Our suggestion is holding the National Varmint Hunting Convention on the day of the game.
7. The Buckhead library may be razed.  No jokes here - THIS WOULD BE A TRAGEDY.  AJC with more.

[A Real Estate Speculator with Beltline Property?]

1. Motherfucker. We apologize for the language, but there is no better way to reflect our feelings upon learning that TAD money cannot be used for the Beltline. The Georgia Supreme Court ruled today that the Georgia Constitution does not allow for this type of funding. If this project dies, expect political heads to roll at all levels of government in Atlanta. Hopefully Atlanta’s state legislators have an amendment up their sleeve. AJC with more.
2. Metroblogging is talking about Georgia Rides to the Capitol, so grab your single speeds and mount up.
3. So goodbye to the old Techwood rollover. You know, the exit and reentry mechanism used to save 30-45 seconds on the downtown connector during rush hour. Techwood Drive is now closed until Summer 2009.

[There will be one fewer shiny unoccupied condo buildings in Buckhead]

1. The CityPlace at Buckhead condominium project is being delayed until the market recovers. In other words, the project is dead. AJC with nominal coverage.
2. We predicted former Georgia Tech Defensive Coordinator Jon Tenuta was headed to LSU. We were wrong, and now he is headed to Notre Dame. Looks as though we are at least as good at the predictions game as Kirk Herbstreit. GT Sports Blog talks Tenuta.
3. Metroblogging says that white people don’t ride MARTA because they see it as too black. Probably true. Race baiting; the best way to get people to read your unlocal local blog.

We haven’t been able to go over the entire transportation study, but we did some honor level graduate school skimming. These are just our initial impressions. More in-depth coverage will be provided as the transportation bill progresses.

Don’t think we can really understand what’s going on without reading the entire report? Probably true, but most people don’t even know this reports exists. Plus, we would love to provide you with some facts we are certain to prejudice you against the bill without you ever having to read it.

[We may have written this entire post to put the up album cover to Mr. Big - Lean Into It]

First, the study committee was chaired by State Sen. Jeff Mullis (R-Chickamauga) and State Rep. Vance Smith (R-Pine Mountain). What seems odd about this pairing. Eureka! Neither resides anywhere near the metropolitan area. Wouldn’t it make sense for at least one of the two chairs to represent the metro area. Nobody will deny that the Atlanta-UnAtlanta dichotomy is a defining characteristic of politics in Georgia. Nowhere is this more evident than in the area of transportation. We aren’t saying that the person should be from the City of Atlanta, but legislators from Cobb, Gwinnett, Douglas, Rockdale, and other metro Atlanta counties have the most to lose if dollars continue to disproportionately flow to every hamlet that dots the map. [Read more →]