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Hello! We are Faith Tucker and Jaylee Pace, first-year students at the University of Georgia. As members of the Policy Analysis Center within Arch Policy Institute, we attended this week’s Athens-Clarke County Commissioner Meeting.
Item 13: TSPLOST Prince Avenue Corridor Improvements
At this week's meeting, the commission addressed topics ranging from road reconstruction to supporting ranked choice voting in local elections. This road reconstruction, titled “TSPLOST 2018 Project 16, Prince Avenue Corridor Improvements”, was under item number 13. TSPLOST, Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax, is a sales tax that is meant to be used for improving transportation in Georgia. This project would create separated bike lanes, an intersection or roadway change, and an upgrade to buffers between the road and pedestrians. Additionally, the sidewalk and surrounding medians would be renovated as well.
Some of these implementations are already in effect but have only been temporary changes to test if they were necessary adjustments. Many residents spoke out in favor of this item, such as the Co-Presidents of Bike UGA, a club at the University of Georgia. The UGA club members attributed students' interest in biking to the biking lanes throughout the Athens-Clarke County area. The students also spoke of a bike repair shop that sits on this road, further showcasing the biking culture of the area.
Other citizens of Athens-Clarke County also supported the measure, including Lisa Milet, a citizen of ACC, who told the commission that she utilizes the lane on Prince Avenue multiple times a day. She further added that she was now able to use her bike to commute to work instead of her car.
Commissioner Link responded to these many positive remarks, stating that she also uses the bike lanes every day to get to her on-campus job. The commissioner added that it was rewarding to see so many citizens in support of this policy.
Commissioner Fisher mentioned that there was a difficult turn coming out of this area and addressed the commission in hopes that this would be revised in the final configuration. Two other commissioners, Houle and Culpepper commented that because the full commission was not present that they perhaps should hold off on the vote. However, the vote went forward regardless, and the item was passed.
Overall, the approval of this item allows for the reconstruction project to become permanent on Prince Avenue and improves the existing work. This will result in separated bike lanes and safer medians between pedestrians and traffic.
Item 22: Creating a LGBTQIA+ Sanctuary
There was a lively, diverse group of Athens’ residents who spoke on Item 22, a resolution that would make Athens a sanctuary for the LGBTQIA+ community.
Many citizens expressed their support through personal antidotes, speaking about how they were bullied while they were in school, and how they did not view their community as one of care and safety. These residents advocated for their support of active protection for queer people in the Athens community.
Additionally, a speaker pointed out some of the tragic homicides of transgender individuals that have occurred in Georgia within the last few years. Just a month ago, on October 19th, a 48-year-old Black gender non-conforming individual person, Santonio Coleman, commonly known as “San” or “Strawberry,” was violently killed near Trail Creek Trail. Coleman’s death is the 24th transgender or gender-expansive person homicide recorded in Georgia since 2013. These murders have prompted many Athens’ residents to call for a safe-haven for these Georgia citizens. While there was little discourse at the agenda setting meeting against the passage of this ordinance, there is potential for more of a debate at the next General Session Meeting on December 3rd.
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