Atlantacast #5 Is Here!

Check it out at Atlantacast.com!

The Truth About truthaboutinfill.com

Saw this sign for Truth About Infill the in Morningside the other day. This “group” has been around fighting infill legislation in Dekalb county. Clearly seems to be a group of real estate agents and developers, but today when I saw the signs, in the same color as Mary Norwood’s signs posted in our neighborhood in Fulton county urging people to oppose Mary’s proposed infill legislation and to visit www.truthaboutinfil.com. Well a fairly easy search led me to the whois lookup at http://domainhelp.tucows.com/.

The truth is that this domain is owned by Holly Berry of Berry Realty. Here is the registration info in case anyone wants to ask her how she represents the residents of Morningside:

Registrant:
Berry Realty
XXXXXXX
XXXXX
US

Domain name: TRUTHABOUTINFILL.COM

Administrative Contact:
Berry, Holly holly@XXXXXXX.com
XXXXXXXXX
XXX XXXX
US
XXXXXXX
Technical Contact:
Administrator, Domain domreg@bizland-inc.com
70 Blanchard Road
Burlington, MA 01803
US
+1.8665999964 Fax: +1.7819988586

Registration Service Provider:
AccountSupport, support@accountsupport.com
This company may be contacted for domain login/passwords,
DNS/Nameserver changes, and general domain support questions.

Registrar of Record: TUCOWS, INC.
Record last updated on 15-Sep-2005.
Record expires on 15-Sep-2006.
Record created on 15-Sep-2005.

Please don’t be fooled by these people. Infill is not bad in itself. Bad infill is bad. These people are using the restrictive historic standards of Druid Hills to paint horror stories about citizens gone bad in controlling renovation and infill. I’d be glad to point out examples of infill and renovation that are ruining our neighborhood as well as infill and renovation that enhance it.

As with Travis Reed of Northside Realty, please consider carefully before giving Berry Realty your business. In my opinion, hiding virtually anonymously behind a mysterious organization to further their economic redevelopment interests is shameful. There is no mention of Berry Realty on the truthaboutinfill.com website. I think this is deceitful and misleading. It says “This site is supported by a grassroots organization of concerned citizens,” but no citizens are mentioned. Donations go to an anonymous PO Box at the UPS Store at North Decatur and Clairmont. You can also donate via PayPay at truthaboutinfil@yahoo.com. If there is any disclosure to be had it is not apparent on their site. The only group mentioned is the Greater Atlanta Homebuilders Association which is apparently providing signs for this “shadow” organization.

Stop the shameful shadiness and come clean with full disclosure of who you really are on your signs, website, and other propaganda. Stop trying to fool the citizens of Fulton County and Atlanta, we’re way to smart for that. Prove to all of us that you care about our neighborhoods and that you’re not just an angry real estate agency with a vendetta against those of use that want to have intelligent redevelopment of our neighborhoods.

UPDATE 11/08/2005 – Please note that Holly Berry has responded to this post and clarified her position in regards to Truth About Infill. With respect to her response I have removed the email, address, zip and phone number listed in the domain registry listed above. To their credit Berry Realty has also clarified their relationship with Truth About Infill on the truthaboutinfill.com website.

Gang of Four and the Big ATL!

Link to Flickr photo set

We saw Gang of Four last night and I must say they definitely out performed the Toronto show from last May. They were more comfortable and flexible with the tunes and Andy Gill was actually in a good mood! At the end of Anthrax he attempted to get the audience to play the feedback part and that failed since they just grabbed the guitar instead of letting the strings vibrate so he just gave it to a girl in the audience!

At one point the crowd broke into the chant of “Hugo! Hugo!” which prompted Hugo to leave his drum kit and approach the mic into which he said “This is MY band.”

So many young kids there – I’m talking under 15 – just going wild! It reminded me of how much this band influenced my life when I was their age. Apparently it’s still vital.

Good times all around and a devastatingly intense performance.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE GO SEE THIS BAND!

Tue 10/11/05 Houston, TX Meridian
Wed 10/12/05 Austin, TX Emo’s
Thu 10/13/05 Dallas, TX Gypsy Tea Room / Ballroom
Sat 10/15/05 Englewood, CO Gothic Theatre
Tue 10/18/05 San Francisco, CA SF Weekly Warfield
Wed 10/19/05 San Diego, CA House Of Blues
Thu 10/20/05 Hollywood, CA The Avalon (Formerly The Palace)
Fri 10/21/05 Anaheim, CA House Of Blues

After the show we headed straight to the Drunken Unicorn to catch Mommy and Daddy, but it seems they played second instead of third so we ended up missing them. The doorman was cool enough to let us in without paying so that we could talk to them. Apparently they’ll be back soon so we’re not totally out of luck! Edmund and Vivian are extra cool and the new album Duel at Dawn is a great one so if you get a chance see them too!

Monday Oct. 10 Senor Frogs Miami, FL
Tuesday, Oct. 11 Wackadoo’s Jacksonville, FL
Wednesday, Oct. 12 Local 506 Chapel Hill, NC
Thursday, Oct. 13 The Khyber Philadelphia, PA
Oct. 20 Great Scott Allston, MA
Oct. 21 Cafe Metropolis Wilkes-Barre, PA
Oct. 22 31st Pub Pittsburgh, PA
Nov. 5 The Social Myrtle Beach, SC
Nov. 9 Nite Cap Lounge Chicago, IL
Nov. 11 Orange Street Akron, OH
Nov. 12 Knitting Factory Tap NY, NY
Nov. 13 Southpaw Brooklyn, NY
Nov. 17 Talking Head Baltimore, MD

Pura Vida is Atlanta’s Restaurant of the Year!

Congratulations to one of our favorite restuarants, Pura Vida, for being selected as The AJC’s Restaurant of the Year. Good on ya Hector and Leslie!

Stay tuned to Atlantacast.com as I’ll be talking about them this weekend!