IN DEFENSE OF BAK

I have to admit that it seems kind of stupid to get involved in these ridiculous little frays that happen from time to time in the Flagpole. However, when people start dissing my favorite bands or my old buddies, it's hard for me to just let it pass. I was living with Dave "the sailor man" Sinclair in a slummy apartment when his friend from Portland, Tod Edward Bak, came to live on our sofa. I can't really say that living with Bak was exactly a bed of roses. He quickly became famous (or should I say infamous?) for getting kicked out of just about every bar in town and losing just about every food service job in town for his wild mood swings and crazed drinking binges. However, we all put up with it because his personality added comic relief to an otherwise drab life of poverty, backbreaking kitchen work and trying to make something of ourselves. This group of friends all had talents yet to be realized, and Bak was no exception. Just about everyone lucky enough to glance through his portfolio had the same thought: if he just made a little effort and pissed a few less people off, he could get somewhere with this thing. And none of us were afraid to tell him this, over and over.

Now, there's always some jerkoff wanting to talk about what's overrated and underrated in this town. Personally, I have to say I'm a little irked about record labels that like to jump on whatever "retro" bandwagon happens to roll along - but I digress.

My point is that a) Bak's comic depicts the real Athens life better than just about anything, and b) Bak's artistic skills at rendering Athens downtown life and his circle of freaks is really damn good. You may not like his sense of humor, but I happen to think his swings from self-loathing, self-pity and (how did he put it - self-aggrandizing?) kind of laughable, in an almost Woody Allen-ish way. A lot of people don't particularly like Patrick Dean, and apparently wanted him fired. Presumably, some feel that way about Clint and Jeremy's "Flick Skinny." Personally, I think they're all brilliant. Comics artists are not like news or music editors: if you don't like it, don't read it. I, for one, have broken my habit of following Billy through "The Family Circus" neighborhood. Likewise, if Gordon wants to spend half a column talking about how great The Agenda is doing in Europe, I can skip that, too. Jesus, I'm doing it again. I tell ya, it's just jealousy that drives people to criticism. I guess opinions are like assholes, but I voted for the asshole that isn't trying to kick people out of their homes.

Spencer Rich

Athens

FACT CHECK

Generally members of the Athens International Community Center task force are pleased with the recent Flagpole article (Task Force at Work, Oct. 15) outlining our efforts to create this resource for the benefit of all Athens residents. There are, however, a few points of clarification that need to be made in response to this article. First, Brent Berlin, Director of the UGA Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies, was quoted out of context as stating that the proposed International Community Center is "only going to relate to people who speak Spanish." In fact, nothing could be further from the truth and Berlin would be the first to state so. This Center will exist to serve all immigrants, regardless of native language or place of origin. The article correctly states that the purpose of the International Center is to provide a single gateway of sorts immigrants could access to help them quickly and efficiently become fully integrated members of Athens-Clarke County. The Center would be a resource to all social service provider organizations in the community, while also providing space for instruction in English and a myriad of workshops developed in coordination with the private sector, the University of Georgia, the County, the State and other interested groups working with the immigrant community.

While it is reasonable, given the remarkable growth of the Athens-area Hispanic community over the last five years, to anticipate this segment of the immigrant population to be one of the largest served at the Community Center, our goal is make this Center a place all immigrant communities of Athens will welcome and use enthusiastically. How many knew that there were over 300 Filipino Athenians among us? There are also solid communities of Chinese, Koreans, Indians, Pakistanis, western and eastern Europeans, and numerous other immigrant groups - all valuable contributors to the community - all Athenians. We see the Community Center as a place where all residents can share in our rich cultural mix through actively promoting cultural events to help us all learn more about our neighbors.

Finally, I was quoted as stating, "the Latinos are the people who are driving this economy." Clearly we know this isn't the case. Latinos are however throwing some $170 million yearly into the local economy and their contribution along with that of other immigrants to Athens will continue to grow if demographic indicators are on the mark. Suffice it to say we see this Center as a wonderful opportunity to promote new business and entrepreneurship, to serve as an incubator for new immigrant businesses that will benefit all Athenians. This initiative will frankly not fly without the strong support of the Athens business community and so we will continue to work with business leaders and members of the Athens Chamber of Commerce, among others, to develop a business plan that is sound and well considered. We encourage all Athenians to attend our next International Community Center public meeting, to be held at the Athens-Clarke County Public Library auditorium, November 18 at 6:30 p.m.

Paul Duncan

Athens

BURNED UP

I do not understand the necessity for the huge fire station located in Five Points. First of all, it is impractical. It is located at one of the busiest intersections in Athens. If there were a fire in the area, and the traffic were horrendous, as it has been lately at that intersection, the fire truck would not be able to get out in a timely manner. In addition, what was wrong with the smaller fire station on Lumpkin? Why are we building new fire stations when we do not need them?

In addition, the design of the fire station is disproportionate to the rest of Five Points. It dwarfs every building around it, and that tower is unnecessary and so incredibly ugly. It makes me so sad when I look at it. All that building material wasted on a tower and a building that is not necessary. What kind of statement is it trying to make? Are we having that many fires? Forgive me if I am missing the entire picture. I just had to express my views on this. Perhaps I will learn more by doing this.

While I am on the subject: it is such a shame that the value of the redesign of the Downtowner was not considered when this decision was made. (It would have made a lovely retro hotel - with bright colors. The phony-colony facade could have been ripped off, and the hotel would have been a lovely rectilinear example of '60s(?) design). It is a pity that the lot did not remain in private hands or that it wasn't made into a lovely park. If we are not careful, Athens is not going to have any green space left. At least in New York, one has Central Park.

This is a plea for the policy-makers, private business owners and citizens of Athens to consider the preservation of Athens' sense of place, its environment and its history when you make decisions on the planning of our community. We have a very special place in which to live, so please consider the citizens and quality of life when you make decisions. Good design can do a lot of good, and it just makes sense.

Bravo to the owners of Jittery Joe's for rehabilitating the gas station. I hope other private business owners in the Five Points area and other areas take their cue. Look what you can do with rehabilitation! It's not wasteful either. Let's consider the big picture of our environment in everything we do. We have so many businesses who are doing this already. We are very fortunate. Let's all work together for the common good of our community. Thank you to those businesses who have rehabilitated our buildings. And shame on those who have ripped off the facades of historic buildings downtown like that Gator Hater place.

W. Cooper

Athens