Condo residents fed up with the noise created by a gang of motorcycle riders who show up every Thursday night at the Fellini’s Pizza on Peachtree at Rumson Road decided to fight back Thursday night with “Occupy Fellini’s.”
John Schaffner, who runs the BuckheadView website and lives in The Gallery condos across Rumson, told the Buckhead Council of Neighborhoods meeting on April 10 that up to 100 motorcycles – many illegally parked on Peachtree – showed up at the pizza joint around 9 p.m. and would stay until closing time at midnight. Residents have complained to the restaurant owner about the parking, revving of engines, popping wheelies and other noise caused by the bikers and the Atlanta Police Department has been on the scene, but Schaffner said the APD’s enforcement had been ineffective.
Last night, a group of about 30 residents from The Gallery took over tables at Fellini’s and Schaffner reports on BuckheadView there were a smaller number of motorcyclists on hand. He said that homeowners would continue to occupy Fellini’s on Thursday nights until something was done about the noise. You can read the full account at BuckheadView.
Partisan politics were also on the agenda at the Buckhead Council of Neighborhoods meeting as Republican candidates made stump speeches and controversial conservative lobbyist group Americans for Prosperity made a presentation on its tax reform plan for Georgia.
There were heated questions aimed at Joel Foster, the communications coordinator for Americans for Prosperity Georgia, and for BCN president Tom Tidwell on why such partisan politics were being discussed at a non-political organization meeting.
Tidwell said that the issue of corporate and industry taxation was an important one, especially as Georgia tries to draw more industry to the state.
Americans for Prosperity is credited with helping lead the takeover of the U.S. House of Representatives in 2010 and was founded with the finances of the Koch Brothers, who have spent millions of dollars in support of conservative political campaigns around the country.
Outgoing Dist. 54 House Rep. Ed Lindsey (R-Atlanta), who is running for the 11th District Congressional seat, tried to smooth over the partisan aspect of the evening by recommending that the BCN invite a conservative economist and someone from the more liberal Georgia Budget and Policy Institute to speak at a future meeting so both sides of the tax debate would be fairly addressed.
Lindsey also gave an “exit speech” on his accomplishments as a Georgia House representative, including co-sponsoring the bill that created the city of Sandy Springs in 2005.
Alexander Palacios (R-Atlanta), who is running for the District 3 Fulton County Commission seat, also made his stump speech after missing the April meeting when contenders Lee Morris, Cory Ruth and Bernie Tokarz made their appeals. Palacios is a newcomer to politics and owns Salsa Havana restaurant.
At the May 8 BCN meeting, the Republican candidates for State House Dist. 54 being vacated by Lindsey, will speak. The GOP candidates include John McCloskey, Beth Beskin, Loretta Lepore and Angelic Moore. Democratic candidate Bob Gibeling said he planned to reach out to the BCN about speaking at the meeting as well.