Athens Politics Nerd
@athenspoliticsnerd.bsky.social
Independent, progressive journalism for Athens, Georgia.
This week, the ACC Commission approved a large student apartment complex to be built near Lay Park, shelved another development at Homewood Hills and tweaked their sidewalk obstruction ordinance.
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Commission narrowly approves large student apartment complex near Lay Park | Athens Politics Nerd
Tempted by a large public benefit package, the Athens-Clarke County Commission narrowly approved a new student apartment complex near Lay Park in a split 6-4
athenspoliticsnerd.com
January 9, 2026 at 6:41 PM
This week, the ACC Commission approved a large student apartment complex to be built near Lay Park, shelved another development at Homewood Hills and tweaked their sidewalk obstruction ordinance.
athenspoliticsnerd.com/commission-n...
athenspoliticsnerd.com/commission-n...
"Unfettered might does not make right. It makes for instability, upheaval and war."
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Donald Trump poses a threat to civilization | Robert Reich
The moral purpose of civilized society is to prevent the stronger from attacking the weaker. The US was founded on that principle
www.theguardian.com
January 8, 2026 at 5:00 AM
"Unfettered might does not make right. It makes for instability, upheaval and war."
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Athens Politics Nerd
1. ICE will kill you.
2. Trumpists will lie to justify it.
3. Because they are all thug trash.
2. Trumpists will lie to justify it.
3. Because they are all thug trash.
January 8, 2026 at 1:10 AM
1. ICE will kill you.
2. Trumpists will lie to justify it.
3. Because they are all thug trash.
2. Trumpists will lie to justify it.
3. Because they are all thug trash.
This is going to keep happening until we stop it. We need to take action.
January 8, 2026 at 1:00 AM
This is going to keep happening until we stop it. We need to take action.
"Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey [said], 'they are already trying to spin this as an action of self defense,' referring to ICE. 'Having seen the video of myself, I want to tell everybody directly that is b---s---.'"
www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...
www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...
Minneapolis woman shot and killed by ICE officer
Federal officials called it a "vehicle ramming" incident, while local officials said that video evidence shows “that is b---s---."
www.nbcnews.com
January 7, 2026 at 11:46 PM
"Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey [said], 'they are already trying to spin this as an action of self defense,' referring to ICE. 'Having seen the video of myself, I want to tell everybody directly that is b---s---.'"
www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...
www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...
This is really bad, y'all. 😵
www.youtube.com/watch?v=vU1-...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=vU1-...
This Flock Camera Leak is like Netflix For Stalkers
YouTube video by Benn Jordan
www.youtube.com
January 7, 2026 at 6:39 PM
This is really bad, y'all. 😵
www.youtube.com/watch?v=vU1-...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=vU1-...
The Staunton, VA police dept terminated their contract with Flock Safety last month.
"The City of Staunton wants to make it clear that the Flock Safety CEO’s narrative does not reflect the city’s values."
Your move, Athens.
www.ci.staunton.va.us/Home/Compone...
"The City of Staunton wants to make it clear that the Flock Safety CEO’s narrative does not reflect the city’s values."
Your move, Athens.
www.ci.staunton.va.us/Home/Compone...
www.ci.staunton.va.us
January 7, 2026 at 6:31 PM
The Staunton, VA police dept terminated their contract with Flock Safety last month.
"The City of Staunton wants to make it clear that the Flock Safety CEO’s narrative does not reflect the city’s values."
Your move, Athens.
www.ci.staunton.va.us/Home/Compone...
"The City of Staunton wants to make it clear that the Flock Safety CEO’s narrative does not reflect the city’s values."
Your move, Athens.
www.ci.staunton.va.us/Home/Compone...
"'In my experience, some projects are going to spread their wings and fly, some projects are going to need a lot of nurturing, and some are just not going to work out,' Mayor Kelly Girtz told Flagpole. The mall redevelopment, he said, is one of the latter."
flagpole.com/news/city-do...
flagpole.com/news/city-do...
Georgia Square Mall Redevelopment Plan Goes Back to Square One - Flagpole
For years Georgia Square Mall has been on life support, and now it appears that a proposal to redevelop it is on death’s door, too. An attorney for The Leaven Group, headed by local developer Mark Jen...
flagpole.com
January 7, 2026 at 5:44 PM
"'In my experience, some projects are going to spread their wings and fly, some projects are going to need a lot of nurturing, and some are just not going to work out,' Mayor Kelly Girtz told Flagpole. The mall redevelopment, he said, is one of the latter."
flagpole.com/news/city-do...
flagpole.com/news/city-do...
Commissioner Melissa Link is observing a moment of silence in honor of the capitol police officers who died due to the injuries they sustained on January 6, 2021.
Today is the 5-year anniversary of the attack on the US Capitol and on our country's democracy.
Today is the 5-year anniversary of the attack on the US Capitol and on our country's democracy.
January 7, 2026 at 1:28 AM
Commissioner Melissa Link is observing a moment of silence in honor of the capitol police officers who died due to the injuries they sustained on January 6, 2021.
Today is the 5-year anniversary of the attack on the US Capitol and on our country's democracy.
Today is the 5-year anniversary of the attack on the US Capitol and on our country's democracy.
Commissioner Dexter Fisher has been chosen to continue as mayor pro tem in 2026.
January 7, 2026 at 1:25 AM
Commissioner Dexter Fisher has been chosen to continue as mayor pro tem in 2026.
The commission voted to delay making a decision about TSPLOST 2026 until January 20.
January 7, 2026 at 1:22 AM
The commission voted to delay making a decision about TSPLOST 2026 until January 20.
Some commissioners are repeating the mostly false idea that other cities drop off people experiencing homelessness here in Athens.
People come here for services. It's not county governments busing people here, it's people from other counties coming here for various services. There's a difference.
People come here for services. It's not county governments busing people here, it's people from other counties coming here for various services. There's a difference.
January 7, 2026 at 1:03 AM
Some commissioners are repeating the mostly false idea that other cities drop off people experiencing homelessness here in Athens.
People come here for services. It's not county governments busing people here, it's people from other counties coming here for various services. There's a difference.
People come here for services. It's not county governments busing people here, it's people from other counties coming here for various services. There's a difference.
The commission has voted unanimously to allow the Homewood Hills shopping center redevelopment to be withdrawn, instead of it being shot down completely.
This means the developer can come back with another plan more quickly. They'd have to wait a year if it was voted down.
This means the developer can come back with another plan more quickly. They'd have to wait a year if it was voted down.
January 7, 2026 at 12:44 AM
The commission has voted unanimously to allow the Homewood Hills shopping center redevelopment to be withdrawn, instead of it being shot down completely.
This means the developer can come back with another plan more quickly. They'd have to wait a year if it was voted down.
This means the developer can come back with another plan more quickly. They'd have to wait a year if it was voted down.
The Core spaces downtown student development passes 6-4, with Commissioners Taylor, Fisher, Johnson and Myers voting against it.
January 7, 2026 at 12:41 AM
The Core spaces downtown student development passes 6-4, with Commissioners Taylor, Fisher, Johnson and Myers voting against it.
This commission meeting is becoming an open mic night. Commissioners are just complaining about whatever topic is on their minds.
There is an agenda, y'all! This is why these meetings take forever. Maybe they should follow the agenda.
There is an agenda, y'all! This is why these meetings take forever. Maybe they should follow the agenda.
January 7, 2026 at 12:39 AM
This commission meeting is becoming an open mic night. Commissioners are just complaining about whatever topic is on their minds.
There is an agenda, y'all! This is why these meetings take forever. Maybe they should follow the agenda.
There is an agenda, y'all! This is why these meetings take forever. Maybe they should follow the agenda.
About the Bethel Homes redevelopment, I will say that those units are massively overpriced and I don't understand why.
I'd love to understand why we don't have the money for NoDA phases 3+. What happened? This isn't normal building cost inflation, I'm convinced it's something else.
I'd love to understand why we don't have the money for NoDA phases 3+. What happened? This isn't normal building cost inflation, I'm convinced it's something else.
January 7, 2026 at 12:31 AM
About the Bethel Homes redevelopment, I will say that those units are massively overpriced and I don't understand why.
I'd love to understand why we don't have the money for NoDA phases 3+. What happened? This isn't normal building cost inflation, I'm convinced it's something else.
I'd love to understand why we don't have the money for NoDA phases 3+. What happened? This isn't normal building cost inflation, I'm convinced it's something else.
Commissioner Thornton just gave a very long and winding comment about the Core development... and a lot of other things way off topic. Reminds me of some of Trump's rambles.
January 7, 2026 at 12:27 AM
Commissioner Thornton just gave a very long and winding comment about the Core development... and a lot of other things way off topic. Reminds me of some of Trump's rambles.
People are speaking in favor of funding to expand the greenway and other multiuse trails to be included in TSPLOST 2026, which currently has no funding for trails.
January 6, 2026 at 11:58 PM
People are speaking in favor of funding to expand the greenway and other multiuse trails to be included in TSPLOST 2026, which currently has no funding for trails.
Speakers from the NE GA Black Chamber of Commerce gave comments just now in favor of the Core Spaces redevelopment near Lay Park.
The developers are offering scholarship funds and very low rent to benefit the Black community and Black-run nonprofits, including Destined Inc.
The developers are offering scholarship funds and very low rent to benefit the Black community and Black-run nonprofits, including Destined Inc.
January 6, 2026 at 11:52 PM
Speakers from the NE GA Black Chamber of Commerce gave comments just now in favor of the Core Spaces redevelopment near Lay Park.
The developers are offering scholarship funds and very low rent to benefit the Black community and Black-run nonprofits, including Destined Inc.
The developers are offering scholarship funds and very low rent to benefit the Black community and Black-run nonprofits, including Destined Inc.
The ACC Commission is discussing the Core Spaces student apartment development near Lay Park. Commissioner Stephanie Johnson is objecting to rezoning 293 Hoyt Street from "government" to "commercial-downtown," a necessary component of the land swap.
January 6, 2026 at 11:37 PM
The ACC Commission is discussing the Core Spaces student apartment development near Lay Park. Commissioner Stephanie Johnson is objecting to rezoning 293 Hoyt Street from "government" to "commercial-downtown," a necessary component of the land swap.
The monthly mayor and commission meeting is underway. On the agenda, we've got:
➡️ The Homewood Hills shopping center redevelopment
➡️ The student development near Lay Park
➡️ The TSPLOST 2026 project list
www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTeM...
➡️ The Homewood Hills shopping center redevelopment
➡️ The student development near Lay Park
➡️ The TSPLOST 2026 project list
www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTeM...
01-06-2026 Mayor & Commission Special Called & Regular Session
YouTube video by Athens-Clarke County (accgov)
www.youtube.com
January 6, 2026 at 11:10 PM
The monthly mayor and commission meeting is underway. On the agenda, we've got:
➡️ The Homewood Hills shopping center redevelopment
➡️ The student development near Lay Park
➡️ The TSPLOST 2026 project list
www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTeM...
➡️ The Homewood Hills shopping center redevelopment
➡️ The student development near Lay Park
➡️ The TSPLOST 2026 project list
www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTeM...
Indivisible GA-10 and other groups held a "Hands off Venezuela" protest at the UGA Arch today, condemning the Trump administration’s "unauthorized military attack on Venezuela’s capitol...in clear violation of international law."
January 5, 2026 at 11:02 PM
Indivisible GA-10 and other groups held a "Hands off Venezuela" protest at the UGA Arch today, condemning the Trump administration’s "unauthorized military attack on Venezuela’s capitol...in clear violation of international law."
A protest against the war in Venezuela will take place at the Arch from 4:30-6pm and one is going on right now at Alps and Baxter!
Join us for two protests on Monday.
11:30 - 1:30 To take place during the regular weekly Peaceful Protest at the corner of Alps and Baxter in Athens
4:30 - 6:00 at the Arch on Broad Street in Athens
11:30 - 1:30 To take place during the regular weekly Peaceful Protest at the corner of Alps and Baxter in Athens
4:30 - 6:00 at the Arch on Broad Street in Athens
January 5, 2026 at 5:11 PM
A protest against the war in Venezuela will take place at the Arch from 4:30-6pm and one is going on right now at Alps and Baxter!
Gotta be honest, Warnock's statement strikes me as incredibly weak. Lexy Doherty's statement is the only good one of this bunch. Trump committed a truly serious crime that could massively destabilize the globe. There must be punishment for it. @lexydoherty.bsky.social
flagpole.com/featured/202...
flagpole.com/featured/202...
Georgia and Athens Officials React to the U.S. Strike on Venezuela - Flagpole
The U.S. military conducted a strike Saturday on the Venezuelan capital of Caracas, capturing President Nicolas Maduro to stand trial on drug charges. Democrats mostly condemned the attack as a foreig...
flagpole.com
January 4, 2026 at 5:34 PM
Gotta be honest, Warnock's statement strikes me as incredibly weak. Lexy Doherty's statement is the only good one of this bunch. Trump committed a truly serious crime that could massively destabilize the globe. There must be punishment for it. @lexydoherty.bsky.social
flagpole.com/featured/202...
flagpole.com/featured/202...
Unbelievable. What a complete clown show over at the Washington Post. Endorsing murder and kidnapping now?
The Washington Post editorial board comes out in favor of the Venezuela attack/operation to capture Maduro
January 4, 2026 at 5:04 PM
Unbelievable. What a complete clown show over at the Washington Post. Endorsing murder and kidnapping now?