The Public Hearing That Finally Gave Them a Voice
When Integrity Becomes Optional
We must insist that public service remain a privilege, not a private benefit. Because when the lesser among us lead unchecked, the city they govern inevitably becomes lesser too.
Olive Garden: Serving the Developer First
This article is an opinion piece based on information obtained from public records at Athens City Hall, including Resolution 2025-2115, the official Project Agreement, and supporting attachments. Olive Garden Holdings, LLC is a Florida-registered subsidiary of Darden Restaurants, Inc., a Fortune 500 company. All opinions expressed are those of the author and are intended to encourage transparency, accountability, and public discussion.
When the Tax Abatements Are Slim, but They Still Bring the Chicken
Turns out you can fry up success without a tax break. 🍗
Slim Chickens came to Athens with no abatements, no incentives, and plenty of flavor. Proving not everyone needs a seat at City Hall’s secret dinner table.
Meanwhile, Leeland Ventures’ shiny new shopping center off Lindsay Lane, prime real estate by anyone’s standards, has been sitting empty for six months while other developments around town fill up overnight.
The Next Case- Buc-ee’s Abatement: A Deal Done Right
Credit where credit’s due. Not every deal that rolls through City Hall is a bad one, and Buc-ee’s proves it. The beaver brought jobs, paid for infrastructure, and is giving back $35,000 every year for the next 20. Even Mayor Marks couldn’t hide his pride at the recent NAACP forum — bragging he checks Buc-ee’s numbers every day.