To know Oconee County, one must first understand the level of civic engagement happening in the community. Celesta Sharpe made a documentary entitled "Carving Up Oconee." The film is about the rigorous debate between those who want to bring developers into Oconee County and those who want to keep it rural and protect farmland. It portrays Oconee citizens as exceptionally literate and informed about modern land-use issues and grassroots organizing.
You can see the trailer here: http://carvingupoconee.com/
The land use debate seems to be the overarching narrative for Oconee County, and as this blog develops, I am sure that land-use issues will color the coverage and provide a background for most stories. It is a rural county that wants to stay rural, but also has the highest per capita income in Georgia. A higher per capita income often reflects a more educated and engaged community, and at the outset, it seems that the citizens of Oconee have a stronger sense of self-determinism and clarity about how they want their community to develop.
Celestae's film portrays these informed and engaged citizens in opposition to the deep pockets and political interests of wealthy developers who see Oconee's farms as fields filled with a different kind of green. From a health perspective, development begets all types of water and land use issues, which in turn affect the environment. Nothing can be more controversial than poorly controlled construction run off. During a time when Northeast Georgia is experiencing one of its worst droughts, it is also important to keep an eye on how new development will affect existing water resources.
For a current and in depth analysis of development issues within Oconee, you can follow Lee Becker's blog: http://www.oconeecountyobservations.blogspot.com/
Disclaimer: He's taught me in class, but this link should not be seen as a direct endorsement. If you are interested in the ins and outs of Oconee Coutny public policy, there are few people who follow it with the same rigor.
asdflYou can see the trailer here: http://carvingupoconee.com/
The land use debate seems to be the overarching narrative for Oconee County, and as this blog develops, I am sure that land-use issues will color the coverage and provide a background for most stories. It is a rural county that wants to stay rural, but also has the highest per capita income in Georgia. A higher per capita income often reflects a more educated and engaged community, and at the outset, it seems that the citizens of Oconee have a stronger sense of self-determinism and clarity about how they want their community to develop.
Celestae's film portrays these informed and engaged citizens in opposition to the deep pockets and political interests of wealthy developers who see Oconee's farms as fields filled with a different kind of green. From a health perspective, development begets all types of water and land use issues, which in turn affect the environment. Nothing can be more controversial than poorly controlled construction run off. During a time when Northeast Georgia is experiencing one of its worst droughts, it is also important to keep an eye on how new development will affect existing water resources.
For a current and in depth analysis of development issues within Oconee, you can follow Lee Becker's blog: http://www.oconeecountyobservations.blogspot.com/
Disclaimer: He's taught me in class, but this link should not be seen as a direct endorsement. If you are interested in the ins and outs of Oconee Coutny public policy, there are few people who follow it with the same rigor.
So then, where does that leave this blog? What space does it occupy? Well, we'll see. This should be an adventure, especially as we begin to discover what it is like to live in Oconee County and breath the air, walk the streets, meet the neighbors, and catch the germs. Expect more facts and demographics to come soon.
I knew about the Becker blog, but not about the film. Good link!
ReplyDeleteI wonder if the tensions between the newspapers could be class/income related, given the income and educational levels? That would be interesting to explore. . . even though it's not health related.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if the tensions between the newspapers could be class/income related? That would be interesting to explore, even though it's not health related. . .
ReplyDeleteSounds like an interesting film. I wonder if those opposed to development are opposed to any and all development, or if their resistance is a response to the establishment of specific businesses or industry.
ReplyDeleteSounds like an interesting film. I wonder if those opposed to development are opposed to any and all development, or if their resistance is a response to the establishment of specific businesses or industry.
ReplyDelete