Cal Beverly's blog

Do-gooder government, unintended results

Tue, 12 Jan 2010 16:40:39 -0500

Two letters on this page take the cap off my own lengthy simmerings on these two related matters.

The first is a super-expensive solution to a limited problem: pedestrians crossing state highway intersections.

OPINION: What now, 3 lame ducks?

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 21:59:04 -0500

So here’s the January 2010 PTC Council lineup: The grizzled two-year veteran, Doug Sturbaum; the newly promoted two-year veteran Don Haddix as mayor; and three rookies — Vanessa Fleisch, Kim Learnard and Eric Imker.

OPINION — What makes Cyndi run?

Fri, 27 Nov 2009 17:28:34 -0500

Really, what drives her decision-making process?

In the few instances where Councilwoman Cyndi Plunkett actually owns up to her infamous support of selling city streets to enable a big-box developer to construct larger big boxes, she cites aesthetics — her personal notion of aesthetics, not anything in city planning or zoning documents.

Opinion — Voters pull plug on Plunkett

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:53:30 -0500

Can you spell r-e-p-u-d-i-a-t-i-o-n?

That’s the resounding verdict of the voters of Peachtree City to the two incumbent City Council members running for another four-year term.

OPINION — PTC candidates: Look at their records

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:16:42 -0400

I eyeballed the whole slate of Peachtree City Council candidates at the recent forum at McIntosh High School and came away impressed with the strength and substance of the field.

Say NO to this SPLOST

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:33:20 -0400

Faced with the imminent expiration of their publicly funded slush fund for profligate governments, the Fayette County Commissioners convened an urgent gathering, inviting all mayors in Fayette to bring in their Santa Claus wish lists for a big “renewed” SPLOST.

OPINION — The Citizen questions candidates

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 18:56:40 -0400

Last Thursday, I emailed political position questions to all candidates in council races for Peachtree City, Fayetteville and Tyrone.

Deadline for email responses to questions is 5 p.m. this Wednesday, Oct. 14.

OPINION – The Great Divide: I don't trust the government

Wed, 02 Sep 2009 22:58:43 -0400

On healthcare, I’m just one of the ‘mob’

My laborious page-by-page reading and opining on the 1,000-plus-page House healthcare bill has been rendered moot by events and my slow reading pace.

It’s now obvious that HR3200 is dead on arrival and likely will never get to even a vote in the House of Representatives.

What happened?

OPINION – Democrats’ healthcare and small business

Thu, 13 Aug 2009 23:40:22 -0400

Part 2 of the continuing horror

I’m reading the thousand-plus-page House healthcare act from the perspective of a small-business person running a business of under 20 employees.

OPINION — Democrats’ healthcare = horror for small businesses

Fri, 07 Aug 2009 00:35:11 -0400

I’ve downloaded the healthcare reform act known as HR 3200. I’ve read the first 170 pages of the 1,017-page bill (probably about 170 pages more than most members of Congress).

My initial impression: God save us from Democrats. Unlike many pieces of legislation, this bill is worse even than its opponents are depicting it.

Taxes and local officials: Where are the adults?

Tue, 28 Jul 2009 15:56:06 -0400

On the issues facing Fayette: Where are the adults?

What should we think of local officials whose response to declining tax revenues is to seek higher tax rates?

With Callula Hill, unplanning reaches its apex

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 16:41:26 -0400

[EDITOR'S NOTE: As of Thursday afternoon, the rezoning vote on Callula Hill has been postponed to mid-July.]

Once upon a time in Peachtree City’s history (like up to about 10 years ago), the volunteer Planning Commission served as the diligent, sometimes picky, but always faithful guardian of the city’s land use plan.

Talking pot behind closed commission doors

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 16:48:06 -0400

Scene: The Fayette County Commission goes behind closed doors for an executive session devoted to “personnel matters.”

Horgan, commission face a decision on ethics

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 16:30:36 -0400

On the last weekend before local high school graduations, a Fayette County elected official got caught doing what you might expect from a tiny minority of high school seniors: Toking while trucking.

What the future holds for newsgatherers

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 16:13:12 -0400

Lauren Leak, a homeschool student, last week emailed me the following questions for her thesis:

“I just have a couple of questions about factors that are playing into the current death of the newspaper and where you see the future of journalism going: