The fog is lifting on a “smoke and mirrors guy”
The Marietta Daily Journal’s “Around Town” column confirms what many of us have suspected for almost four years: Dean Alford never intended to build Plant Washington. Cobb EMC is now posting board meeting minutes on its web site for access by co-op owner-members (pass word protected with no ability to electronically copy or print). The minutes … Continue reading "The fog is lifting on a “smoke and mirrors guy”"
Good governance isn’t just for co-op owner-members
The cows are still coming home to Cobb EMC. The Marietta Daily Journal is reporting that Dwight Brown is taking legal action against Cobb EMC because he thinks he is due the full $2.1M from a consulting contract. If I were Dwight Brown I would do the same: who wouldn’t want to collect $13,800 per … Continue reading "Good governance isn’t just for co-op owner-members"
Power4Georgians law firm reports “fat” profits
The going rate for attorneys like the ones at King and Spalding, who represent Washington EMC and the remaining three co-ops in Power4Georgians, is about $650 per hour, per attorney. They usually have no fewer than three attorneys at their table. Billing just under $2000 per hour isn’t chump change. So how did last year … Continue reading "Power4Georgians law firm reports “fat” profits"
This is no time to sit on the sidelines
To my two adult daughters in their 20s- I hope you know what is a stake with all this shouting about birth control and access to safe and legal abortion. It hasn’t really been that long since the pill was introduced in 1960 as a safe and effective means not only of planning for/avoiding pregnancy, … Continue reading "This is no time to sit on the sidelines"
You may own us, but we won’t let you in
The Friday Photo A weekly photo inspired by spontaneity, art, and community. February 24, 2012 The sun was shining brightly on the sign at my electric co-op yesterday. It needs to shine brightly on operations and decisions made there. The owner members must request, in writing, permission to attend any part of a board meeting. … Continue reading "You may own us, but we won’t let you in"
HB 887 gives corporate foxes the key to the hen house
On the heels of Georgia’s largest fish kill in our history– which included five years of unpermitted dumping-the state is on the verge of giving corporate foxes the key to the state hen house with HB 887. If you think the rules and enforcement are lax now, imagine what HB 887 will do. This bill … Continue reading "HB 887 gives corporate foxes the key to the hen house"
SB 401: A bill conservatives and treehuggers can love
Georgia Senate Bill 401, (SB 401) would, in a nutshell, deregulate solar power in Georgia and serve as an incentive for both private and commercial expansion of solar power. Between the fleet of lobbyists and influential directors at GA Power, the company has maintained a stranglehold on the amount of power that can be moved … Continue reading "SB 401: A bill conservatives and treehuggers can love"
Dwight Brown is a national award winner
mug shot indictments on 35 charges years of lawsuits brought by co-op owner members awarding a no-bid contract to your business partner barring owner members from board meetings making thousands of owner members furious voted “Best Villain” in a national media awards competition Kudos to Mad Dog Mail, Building a Better Georgia. and 190,000 Cobb … Continue reading "Dwight Brown is a national award winner"
Flannery O’Connor could have written this
Today the team I play on stepped our game up to a higher level. We started together to stop Plant Washington, a coal plant supported locally by the Tarbuttons (Southerners know to how things happen in a “one family county.”). The more my friends and neighbors, along with our partners, learned about our respective electric co-op’s … Continue reading "Flannery O’Connor could have written this"
I have to give Rep Mack Jackson credit for follow through
Last week when I was doing back flips over HB 475, which gives Industrial Development Authority boards far too much power over and control of taxpayer dollars. I called my rep in the Georgia General Assembly, Mack Jackson, to “share” my concerns (he might say I vented). If you follow the Georgia General Assembly during … Continue reading "I have to give Rep Mack Jackson credit for follow through"
What is missing from all the noise about breast cancer funding?
Last week when the country erupted over Susan G. Komen’s decision to yank funding for Planned Parenthood, one key element was missing from all the shouting: how many cancer organizations are talking about the very real dangers and causes of cancer resulting from how our food is produced, and what is in the air and … Continue reading "What is missing from all the noise about breast cancer funding?"
HB 475 lets the fox run the hen house
Just to give folks a quick perspective on some things that are concerning to some taxpayers in Washington County, GA where I live: my General Assembly Representative in the House, Mack Jackson, who was clearly raised to be polite and considerate, ushered a bill through the General Assembly after Plant Washington ( a proposed $2.1B+ … Continue reading "HB 475 lets the fox run the hen house"
Senate Bill 269: Georgia’s rivers and streams for sale to lowest bidder
One would think that if an elected official, like Jesse Stone of Senate District 23, had an opportunity to introduce legislation that would create stronger safeguards for the already polluted rivers in his district, he would. But in fact, as a co-sponsor of SB 269, he hasn’t. The Ogeechee River, which experienced the largest fish … Continue reading "Senate Bill 269: Georgia’s rivers and streams for sale to lowest bidder"
Breast cancer survivors for Planned Parenthood
Last year in January while I was recovering from a lumpectomy and waiting to start radiation (because early detection saves lives and contributes to better outcomes), a group of friends wanted to make a donation in honor of a young friend (32 at the time) who had just lost both breasts to cancer (she has … Continue reading "Breast cancer survivors for Planned Parenthood"
Moving from one site to another
Rural and Progressive is in the process of moving from blogpsot to ruralandprogressive.org. Please bear with me while I get everything in place. I hope you will comment and be engaged in addition to sharing the posts. Got ideas on how this can be a really great site? Let me know. Katherine