This week, on Athens News Matters, a new ordinance will restrict laying or camping outside of businesses. Plus, why large amounts of fish have died recently in Georgia.
Mayor Girtz discusses the new right-of-way ordinance
In August, the Mayor and Commission voted down an ordinance that would have prohibited camping in public areas and prevented obstruction of foot traffic on streets and sidewalks. This Tuesday, the Commission voted to pass a slightly different ordinance. This one will only prohibit laying or camping in commercial corridors—in other words, outside of businesses. Thanks to a last-minute amendment, the new right-of-way ordinance won’t go into effect until January 6th. Enforcement efforts will focus on downtown.
Mayor Kelly Girtz sat down with WUGA’s Havivah Saltz to discuss the new ordinance.
Recent fish die-offs in Georgia indicate water issues
A fish kill is a mass die-off of fish. Georgia saw two last month; one near Hartsfield‑Jackson Atlanta International Airport following a sewage spill, and one at Radium Springs in Albany due to environmental factors. To find out more, WUGA’s Havivah Saltz sat down with Jay Shelton, retired professor of fisheries at UGA.
If you see a fish kill, you can report it to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Emergency Hotline at 1-800-241-4113.
