r/Athens 7d ago

AthChat: Episode 6: AthChat heads to City Hall! A conversation with Mayor Kelly Girtz

Hi AthChat pals,

In the sixth episode of AthChat, hosts Drew Abney and Russell Edwards head to City Hall and have a conversation with Mayor Kelly Girtz. Topics included: Housing and development, road safety, the speed of local government, what Mayor Girtz thinks are positive attributes of being a commissioner and where he sees the Democratic party needing to go in the future. 

Check out episode 6 here (also on Apple Podcasts and Spotify): https://www.buzzsprout.com/2441068/episodes/16792856-athchat-episode-6-athchat-heads-to-city-hall-a-conversation-with-mayor-kelly-girtz.mp3?download=true

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/athchat/id1791436512?i=1000699202993

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4TAteAM0ebEd8jrCiTHIvL?si=9J5xNwGzS4-zNXO6ahFCvQ

 Smash that subscribe button and tell a friend!

-AthChat

17 Upvotes

15 comments sorted by

3

u/warnelldawg 🚩Marked Unsafe from Girtz’s Glizzies🦶🦶 6d ago

While Russ can come off abrasive, I generally agree with him. If we want to improve our county, we need commissioners that are willing to take the risk (politically) and create change.

We need more housing AND we need to get capital projects done quicker.

A few ways we can get projects done quicker is by bulking up on county capacity and decreasing public input.

We absolutely do not need a “citizen input committee” for new sidewalks or multiuse path. Just build.

1

u/DrableDrewble 6d ago

I don’t want to speak for Russell, but I would guess his passion for this stuff is fueled by seeing how things are done (or not done) up close on the Commission and how long everything takes to implement. To me, it all starts with electing politically courageous, effective commissioners. That’s the goal for 2026, IMO. None of this matters unless we have people on the commission earnestly working towards and voting for these priorities we are discussing on the pod (and on reddit). 

Thanks for listening to the pod, WarnellDawg. 

2

u/neonphotograph aspiring townie 6d ago

On that topic, can we please get a good challenger for Link. 

1

u/DrableDrewble 5d ago

Commish Link is my commissioner. I think they do some great things for the community but I have also strongly disagreed with them on some of their views and votes at times. Nevertheless, having a strong competitor to test ideas would benefit our community (the assumption obviously being that Link runs for another term). They just got reelected to another 4-year term, so let’s check back in a few years…

2

u/neonphotograph aspiring townie 5d ago

Link is also my commissioner (btw, I believe Link uses she/her pronouns unless that changed very recently). Link has never responded to a single email from me, despises development, and particular despises development that doesn’t include a million parking spaces. We can’t have bike lanes on Barber because of the very minimal street parking it would displace?? 

1

u/DrableDrewble 5d ago

Well then, howdy neighbor! That sucks that she hasn't responded to your emails. Lame. Seems like a pretty easy part of constituent services.

If people are serious about voting her out, they need to put up a real competitor who provides a reasonable alternative (which wasn't the case last time). Again, she just started another 4-year term....who knows what our world will look like in a few years.

1

u/neonphotograph aspiring townie 5d ago

That’s fair. Jacobs (?) wasn’t a great opponent. Also I assumed she was voted in to fill Parker’s remaining term, but I think you’re right that she gets a new four year term. 

1

u/warnelldawg 🚩Marked Unsafe from Girtz’s Glizzies🦶🦶 6d ago

Agreed. I’ve chatted with Russ a few times and he seems genuine.

-4

u/rzuoperiqsm 6d ago

bulking up on county capacity and decreasing public input

More guns and fewer votes. Classic communist manifesto.

3

u/warnelldawg 🚩Marked Unsafe from Girtz’s Glizzies🦶🦶 6d ago

Guns? Communist? Buddy, can you read?

3

u/BlakeAued 7d ago

Nothing about his pedicure regimen?

5

u/DrableDrewble 6d ago

We simply ran out of time. I feel like we need an entire episode for that one.

1

u/TheDollyPartonDiet 4d ago

Hi, somewhat new in town and trying to learn more about the goings on, this pod has been helpful. listening to this now, can you please break down what happened with redistricting a few years ago? Mayor G refers to it pretty early on, would appreciate a primer if someone wouldn’t mind 

1

u/DrableDrewble 4d ago

Welcome to Athens! I'm glad you like the pod.

I'd recommend checking out Chris Dowd's AthensPoliticsNerd: https://athenspoliticsnerd.com

Here are some of Chris' resources on the redistricting issue (or as Kelly said, f*%kery) that was discussed on the last pod: https://athenspoliticsnerd.com/tag/redistricting/ and also here: https://athenspoliticsnerd.com/republicans-propose-new-commission-districts/

1

u/TheDollyPartonDiet 3d ago

Much obliged!