Comments on: Drought forces Peachtree Road Race to move from Piedmont Park

By: RichS

RichS — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 14:49:03 +0000

So far I’m tallying one reasonable, well thought out idea that could be implemented. I like reducing taxes on undeveloped land. Not sure how much impact it would have but there would certainly be some.

I’m done with this conversation though unless you want to give some more reasoned solutions. I think if you are honest you will admit that your issue with Atlanta growth has little to do with water resources. I suspect it has much to do with traffic, crowding, and other quality of life issues which were a big issue for you long before this drought.

By: Carol

Carol — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 13:56:36 +0000

States, cities and local communities control development in other parts of the country for a myriad of reasons, including water access. It is not a foreign concept, except here in Georgia, it seems. Atlanta’, s growth is unsustainable. Period. There will always be special interests who are hurt.
Here’s one solution: lower property tax on forestland. One of the reasons that Georgia is overdeveloped is that timber owners, who make little money annually on their land, are overtaxed. They are forced to sell to developers, or cut prematurely in order to pay their annual taxes. Alabama is wonderfully forested because of their low property taxes on forest land.
Who says all the counties have to be on the same page? They don’t have to be in other states. Perhaps the state could implement a moratorium. There are all kinds of ways to solve this problem. You are just a naysayer who wants to blame it on nature, which of course is reasonable. However, we, because we are rational advanced human beings, have to find a way to deal with mother nature. It’s NOT complicated. And life is not always fair and equitable. Get over it and solve the problem. Stop the development madness.

By: richs

richs — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 04:10:58 +0000

Actually I don’t believe I have said it isn’t a problem - just that what we are talking about here is the current water crisis. Not traffic, not land use. Water. And the truth is that Atlanta “overpopulation” is only a small contributing factor to why lake Lanier is so low right now.

I have presented the math several different ways to show what proportion of the problem can be attributed to Atlanta metro water consumption, but I don’t believe you are interested in those facts.

And your answers are still vague. For instance “place moratoriums on building permits”.

Who? Atlanta? Gwinnett? Fulton? Cobb? Marietta? Georgia? There are dozens of controlling authorities. How do you propose to get them all on the same page?

Might this not be a little punitive toward owners of undeveloped land? Who is going to pay them for the fact that they own land that just became worthless? Isn’t there a better way to spread the pain among everyone instead of concentrating it on landowners who’s only crime is that they didn’t hurry up and develop the property already?

I’m not saying there aren’t any solutions. I just don’t believe you Carol have thought out how your ideas could be implemented nor who they would harm.

By: Carol

Carol — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 02:16:47 +0000

Rich, I didn’t say you shouldn’t have an opinion. Obviously, anyone can have an opinion. However, you’re opinion can be challenged. You have consistently stated that development in Metro Atlanta isn’t a problem.
Ways to control growth: place moratoriums on building permits (other places have done it). Stricter zoning requirements. Stricter land use regulations. Lots of other places have stricter growth control measures than Atlanta, particularly out west. It’s not that difficult. Bottom line: if you don’t have the infrastructure, such as water, to support development, you have to control the development. If you don’t control the growth, then don’t whine about not having the infrastructure and expect other people and regions to support your profligate ways. This is not a difficult concept.

By: richs

richs — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 02:08:56 +0000

Too funny Carol - You should do a top ten list of why RichS shouldn’t have an opinion. Lol.

To be clear I live in Gainesville, and have lived in both Gwinnett and Henry counties over the last 15 years. Maybe I should start a wiki entry of information about RichS. I’m sure there are thousands of visitors to this website that feel a burning need to know all about me.

While I’m working on that autobiography, I am still interested to see if you have a plan to control growth.

By: Carol

Carol — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 01:50:00 +0000

Knowing about overdevelopment in Metro Atlanta has everything to do with living here. Rich thinks overdevelopment isn’t a problem, but how can he know if he doesn’t live here and experience it himself?
Mickey??

By: mickey

mickey — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 01:12:18 +0000

Knowing about the drought has very little to do with actually living here; it helps a little, but not much. I live here, but 99.9% of my drought info comes from web, tv and radio — not from looking outside.

He makes well-reasoned points, though you’re certainly free to disagree with him.

By: Carol

Carol — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 23:42:12 +0000

Rich doesn’t live in metro Atlanta? Then quit posting on things you don’t even know about!
Sinking ship theory: a boat can save lots of people and be comfortable and useful and habitable, but if too many get on, everyone sinks. It’s not complicated.

By: RichS

RichS — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 20:05:52 +0000

I’m not part of any special interest Carol. In fact I don’t even live in metro Atlanta as it is generally defined. I just find it funny that you complain so much about those who moved here after you while holding yourself blameless.

As far as growth, I am all for reasonable, well thought out policies. It’s a little naive to think that it will be something that can be done overnight though. Permits are done on a city and county basis. All those regions would have to get on the same page somehow. You have to let people build that are already in the process. Otherwise the government has basically taken land from citizens and made it worthless. It can be done but I’ve only seen very simplistic posts from you as to how to make it happen. Please elaborate and let’s see if you have any real ideas or are just full of hot air.

And please Carol - enlighten us with your brilliant take on the sinking ship theory and how it relates to everyone who moved to Atlanta on a later date than you did.

By: Aaron

Aaron — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 18:11:24 +0000

I cannot help, but think that this whole drought is really a big fraud being perpetrated on the people of Atlanta. Evidence?

- On October 15, 2007 ABC News reported that the state estimated that we had 3 months of water remaining. Here we are January 14, 2008 and I don’t know about you, but I still had water for a shower, to make coffee, water my cat, dog, and bird, and wash my dishes.

- Private citizens are being fined for washing their cars, yet commercial car washes continue to operate (i.e. the Cactus Carwash on Ponce).

- Creative Loafing reported that Coke produces Dasani Bottled Water using municipal tap water in Marietta. Further they reported that Coke gets a considerable discount on this water. Is there no drought in Marietta?

- The AJC reported that Southern Company is one of the biggest users of water in the state, yet like Coke there have been no sanctions against those users.

- Water was sold to Alabama and Florida to cool power plants (reported USA Today). So an almost landlocked state (Georgia) sold water to two states with significant coast lines. Didn’t I just see a GE ad on TV talking about their desalination equipment? Wouldn’t it have been more cost effective and better for us for those states to invest in such equipment?

- If you install new landscaping you can get a 30 day exemption and water your new plants. Where is this water magically coming from?

My point: if there is a really crisis going on, then the people who by the reduction of their usage of water are the large corporations who use a lot of water, and not the private citizen. There isn’t, however, a lot of money to be made in sanctioning larger corporations. If there is really a crisis then why is our governor not in front of congress demanding action? Why isn’t he meeting with officials in Great Lake States? Why are we not seeing officials from Coke doing something to curb their usage?

Here’s a novel idea…if we want to refill the lake why don’t all the residents of Atlanta take a gallon of water down to Lanier and dump it in?