IN RE: ATHFEST

In last week's AthFest CD review by Chris Hassiotis he incorrectly stated that "all costs of putting on the three-day festival fell under the city's umbrella as promotional costs." As Director of AthFest I would like to set the record straight about the festival's funding. AthFest is an independent event run by a committee of dedicated individuals and is not directly funded by the city. AthFest is sponsored by the Athens Downtown Development Authority, and Art Jackson, the Director of the ADDA, does sit on the AthFest Committee.

The ADDA helps AthFest secure a small amount of special event funds that come from hotel taxes that are only used for paying for city services we must use during the event. All other funding for both the festival and the CD come from sponsorships and AthFest wristband and merchandise sales. We are fortunate to receive the cooperation of the ADDA, and once we are fully incorporated as a non-profit entity we will still be working with them and receiving the special events funding.

Besides incorrectly identifying the funding and structure of AthFest the review was very critical of the CD's content. As a former Flagpole writer I encourage the staff at the Pole to be objective and say what they believe. However, I am disappointed that Chris failed to recognize the tremendous effort of all the bands that submitted music for the CD and all of the people like Russ Hallauer that work very hard to put the AthFest CD and the festival itself together year after year.

Jared Bailey
Watkinsville

IN RE: ATHFEST CD

Flagpole Music Editor Chris Hassiotis is certainly entitled to his own opinion, but in his recent review of the AthFest Compilation CD [May 7], his facts on several items are incorrect. I feel that someone else representing AthFest will address those issues, but I wish to point out that the sheer work of compiling the entries for the CD is damn near impossible to do and Russ Hallauer should be commended for doing an excellent job. I know that getting good submissions is a hard task and I can name several of the "current representatives of the scene" that I personally begged to submit that did not do so. I bet Russ can name a ton more.

I do not know where to begin to address the comment in the review about Russ being "freed from the Government's watch" and opening the gates for a more representative collection of songs and musicians. If there are any watches going on, I suppose they would be mine, since I have been a major financial sponsor of the CD from its creation. Russ has always strived to make sure that I am happy with it and offered to allow me to help pick the songs, which I have politely declined. I feel that since he is the owner of a successful local label and is passionate about what he does that I can trust his judgment completely. Another major reason I defer to his judgment is that I NEVER wanted anyone that did not get on the CD to be able to say that it was because they did not shop at Musician's Warehouse.

Ed Magruder
Athens

YOUR BACK

[In response to the "Watch Your Back" picture, April 30] "I, Mike Simpson, did not put the sign on Boss Brannen's car. It was actually put on the car by, yes, as I observed, feeling shocked and concerned, the sign was actually put on the car by: John Neff. The message on the sign, "I eat cat butt," was written by Johanna Gardner."

Now write this: "Heck, I can't even write. Why else do you think it took me seven years to finish college?"

Now do whatever it takes to get the message to them.

[Message from Mike Simpson, Foodworker, as per written and sent by anonymous hand(s).]

Name Withheld
Athens

ON DECK

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Funny how Flagpole will reprint an article bashing Bush for his aircraft carrier speech [May 7], but you'll never see them reprint photos of Clinton prancing around the deck of the USS Theodore Roosevelt in a flight jacket. I guess the fact that Clinton came in a helicopter rather than a fighter jet makes all the difference in the world, right? I have no problem with criticism of an elected official of either party, but I will take issue with hard core liberals - OR right wing conservatives - who criticize EVERYTHING the other party does while ignoring situations in which members of their party pull the exact same "stunts." Your magazine has no credibility.

Rex Mattson
Athens

UNRELATED DOGS

Speaking as a former UGA student who has rented many houses in this town over my dozen or so years here and a graduate who now owns a home in a Clarke County subdivision, I find myself torn over the rental issue. On the one hand, I remember being a broke, stupid kid who really enjoyed the freedom of living with five friends and having a yard and no one living above or below me. On the other, I am now an "adult" with a "real" job (not in Athens, mind you, because those are rare) who owns a house that is surrounded by renters who are for the most part good people. They enjoy the occasional party (which I sometimes attend) and do a pretty good job of keeping their places neat. Every one of them owns at least two dogs and some more than two.

From my front porch I can count 20 dogs. Yes, that is 20 barking, stinking, undisciplined, neglected animals that bark incessantly.

What am I to do? I enjoy having young people in the neighborhood to keep things lively, but with a baby on the way and a wife who needs quiet time to study for her Ph.D. exams, I find myself forced to take legal action against the owners of the noisy dogs. There are ordinances on the books and an organization (the Marshal Service) to supposedly enforce them. However, despite many phone calls, nothing apparent has been done. 1 a.m., 2 a.m., 3 a.m., the barking continues and my renter resentment deepens despite myself.

So, do we really need more rules and government regulation or simply a more effective means of utilizing the services that we have? I do not know. I do know that since the renters and landlords have not taken the initiative to regulate themselves, the commission and mayor are being forced to do it for them. I for one will be sorry to see the kids go, but not the dogs.

Steve D. Pettis, Jr.
Athens

HELL NO

I attended the commission meeting last night (Tuesday, 6 May) and stayed till the very bitter end. Even though public input was vastly in favor of rejecting or tabling the Residential Rental Registration ordinance (something like seven no's to every yes), our commission ignored the opposition and their own planning commission and chose to pass this ordinance into law, even though several commissioners who voted yes admitted it was flawed and needed more work.

According to Commissioner States McCarter in his closing comments, when referring to the large number of citizens that attended to voice their opposition, "numbers mean nothing." I have decided to adopt commissioner McCarter's motto: "Numbers mean nothing," and I refuse to recognize the authority of the Athens Clarke County Commission. Since "numbers mean nothing," then surely the yes majority vote by the Commission means nothing.

I will NOT be registering my residential rental property, and furthermore, as an act of civil disobedience, Athens-Clarke county will not be receiving any property tax dollars from me this year if this ordinance is allowed to stand as passed. I would like to suggest that all of you who opposed this invasive, illegal ordinance join me in solidarity and refuse to pay your property taxes or register your residential rental property until this ordinance is struck down. If you do, the Athens Clarke County Commission will find out if numbers mean anything or not.

Erik Adrian Schultz
Athens