Their main question was about the impending Sept. 21st execution of Troy Anthony Davis, about whom Amnesty International says there is too much doubt.
Student protesters greet Governor Nathan Deal at Valdosta State University, 16 Sep 2011.
Pictures by Gretchen Quarterman for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.
The press had already noticed: Continue reading
The VDT picked up that I referred to Ashley Paulk’s
personal attention of the day before
as flattery.
Sorry, elected officials who can’t even get recognized by the Chairman:
bring a camera next time; then he’ll notice you!
First I pointed out that the Mayor of Hahira was in the room. The Chairman had recognized the new Mayor of Valdosta, his replacement on the Valdosta City Council, and the Chair of the Lake Park Chamber of Commerce, but not the Mayor of Hahira. I didn’t want anyone to think the County Commission doesn’t care about Hahira!
Then I commended the voting Commissioners for their comments
Continue reading
8 June 2010.
A Mr. Mulligan of Bemiss Road
wanted to know who does code enforcement.
Chairman Paulk responded:
You’re looking at him. Me.
This was shortly after he said: Continue reading“I was the sheriff sixteen years; I locked up some of my best friends; that’s the way I operate.”
Another in a long series of periodic updates to the ULDC.
7.c. TXT-2011-01 Combination Plats, Administrative/Clerical Changes, Zoning Map, & Other AmendmentsCommissioner Powell wanted to know if County Planner Jason Davenport had sent these changes out to any engineers or developers to see if they had any concerns. County Planner said some of them had been on the mass email that he had sent, in addition to the notice in the newspaper, plus he had called surveyors’ offices. Commissioner Powell seemed satisfied.
Here’s the video:
TXT-2011-01 Combination Plats, Administrative/Clerical Changes, Zoning Map, & Other Amendments
Work Session, Lowndes County Commission (LCC),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 12 September 2011.
Videos by John S. Quarterman for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.
-jsq
Applicant and County Planner Jason Davenport recommend tabling
this rezoning case until one more test comes back from the health department.
7.b. REZ-2011-12 Cardwell, 5415 Railroad Ave, 0095 003, 1 lot, 1 acre, R-10 to R-21, well/septic
Here’s the video:
7.b. REZ-2011-12 Cardwell, 5415 Railroad Ave @ LCC 12 Sep 2011
Work Session, Lowndes County Commission (LCC),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 12 September 2011.
Videos by John S. Quarterman for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.
-jsq
Commissioners and staff concerned with ironing out issues about
rezoning before voting on it!
County Planner Jason Davenport said he wanted to talk one more time to the two parties before it comes to the Commission tomorrow.
7.a. REZ-2011-11 West-Fuller, 5303 Tucker Road, 137-25 & 25A, ~1.31 ac, E-A & R-1 to R-1 and R-21, well/septicCommissioner Powell wondered whether it would be best to send it back to the Planning Commission first. Commissioner Evans said it was her understanding that the Planning Commission wanted it to come back to them. The County Planner said he thought they would enjoy seeing it again, but they might understand not making the applicant waiting another 30 days, so he wanted to talk to the applicant one more time first. Commissioner Powell wanted to be sure there would be documentation in the file so if something came up ten years down the road they’d know what went on.
Here’s the video:
7.a. REZ-2011-11 West-Fuller, 5303 Tucker Road @ LCC 12 Sep 2011
Work Session, Lowndes County Commission (LCC),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 12 September 2011.
Videos by John S. Quarterman for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.
-jsq
Well, I suppose there are several morals here, such as never set your camera down, never go into a public office alone, etc.Local Realtor Doug Gilford has gained notoriety as the blogger and videographer who filmed the unlawful removal of Desert Freedom Press Publisher Jennifer Jones, from a June 28th town council meeting. The video has been viewed almost two hundred thousand times on Gilford’s YouTube channel.
Yesterday afternoon, around 3:30 Gilford was at the counter in Town Hall, filing an open records request for town hall feed surveillance tape when Assistant Town Manager Al Johnson confronted Gilford. Apparently feeling threatened, Gilford set his camera on the counter but didn’t hit record, when suddenly Johnson snatched it from across the counter. When Gilford called for police assistance, he ended up being arrested instead of Johnson.
But that’s not what seems familiar. Oh, here it is: Continue reading
The actual decision is broader than that.
It’s not just about police, it’s about
“The filming of government officials engaged in their duties in a
public place”.
Quoting from United States Court of Appeals For the First Circuit, No. 10-1764, August 26, 2011.
Page 8:
The First Amendment issue here is, as the parties frameContinue readingit, fairly narrow: is there a constitutionally protected right to videotape police carrying out their duties in public? Basic First Amendment principles, along with case law from this and other circuits, answer that question unambiguously in the affirmative.
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. It is firmly established that the First Amendment’s aegis extends further than the text’s proscription on laws
There’s no need to speculate that private prison companies have incentive to keep more people locked up: CCA says so. Kanya D’Almeida wrote for IPS 24 August 2011, ‘Profiteers of Misery’: The U.S. Private Prison Industrial Complex:
What’s this got to do with Georgia? Continue readingCCA’s 2010 annual report states categorically that, “The demand for our facilities and services could be adversely affected by the relaxation of enforcement efforts, leniency in conviction or parole standards and sentencing practices or through the decriminalization of certain activities that are currently proscribed by our criminal laws — for instance, any changes with respect to drugs and controlled substances or illegal immigration could affect the number of persons arrested, convicted, and sentenced, thereby potentially reducing demand for correctional facilities to house them.”
CCA continues, “Legislation has been proposed in numerous jurisdictions that could lower minimum sentences for some non-violent crimes and make more inmates eligible for early release based on good behaviour, (while) sentencing alternatives under consideration could put some offenders on probation who would otherwise be incarcerated. Similarly, reductions in crime rates or resources dedicated to prevent and enforce crime could lead to reductions in arrests, convictions and sentences requiring incarceration at correctional facilities.”
The organization that considers every rezoning request
for Lowndes County
or any of the cities of Valdosta, Dasher, Hahira, or Lake Park,
the Greater Lowndes Planning Commission,
meets tonight, 5:30 PM, 29 August 2011.
This appointed body decides nothing, but it does make recommendations to the
elected governing body of the appropriate county or city,
which does take those recommendations into account before deciding.
If you want to rezone, or if there’s rezoning near you,
you would do well to go to the Planning Commission meeting
before it gets to your local elected body.
The Planning Commission’s remit is not just rezoning cases. According to the City of Valdosta’s writeup:
The mission of the Greater Lowndes Planning Commission (GLPC) is to look beyond short-term solutions in planning for the future of the Greater Lowndes community; to improve the public health, safety, convenience and welfare; and to provide for the social, economic and physical development of communities on a sound and orderly basis, within a governmental framework and economic environment which fosters constructive growth and efficient administration.
The Planning Commission meets at the old Lowndes County Commission offices: Continue reading