ACC Commission approves community garden as misinformation spreads

The ACC Commission has approved a community garden at 585 Vine Street as conspiracy theories and other misinformation spread about the redevelopment on social media, sparking anger.

For more information, you can read the article on my website:

I should clarify that I, of course, don't know what's in people's minds or their hearts. This is an opinion video. Everyone involved may be justifiably concerned about gentrification and simply misinformed about this particular development.

But I have come to believe that some may be purposefully spreading disinformation in our community for political purposes. This is a personal opinion, not a fact, of course.

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TRANSCRIPT

According to some, a grave threat is spreading through east Athens.

“I would implore you not to allow this to happen to us.”

“I do believe there are devils that work behind the scenes. At the end of the day, I do not want my name attached to that.”

“They’re trying to get rid of us. We need them gone.”

“That will be the end of this community and the blood will be on each of your hands.”

It may surprise you to learn that this is about a community garden. Things have gone completely off the rails at city hall because of some conspiracy theories spread by bad faith actors. Even some Commissioners, people who absolutely know better, have been buying into this.

Commissioners Thornton, Fisher and Johnson all voted against the garden, mostly because they’re scared of their constituents. Fisher is running for mayor right now, so I guess he can’t afford to alienate the anti-community garden vote. Or something. Thornton is also up for re-election.

Commissioner Tiffany Taylor is too, but instead of caving to the pressure, she stood up and told the truth.

“I know what ‘the block’ looks like. I know what eviction looks like. I know what gentrification looks like. That’s why I got elected. Your concerns are my concerns… But I also know… that Rashe isn’t trying to harm this community. I’ve volunteered in her garden, my children too. Rashe is what east Athens is. She just is. Change is inevitable and it’s scary. Because I motion to approve this motion, it does not make me less ‘east side’ than anybody else.”