Smith Dynasty, 16th Day of Hagwinter, 525 M.E. (Castor): I voted today. I got to my polling place around 12:15 and there was only a very short line ahead of me, maybe four or five persons. 

A woman who got there just ahead of me turned and shared that the line didn't seem too bad. I agreed, and then she told me she was really most interested in what is happening in todays' mayoral election up in New York. I agreed, but reminded her that we're not allowed to discuss politics while in line to vote.

"Well, it's not about Atlanta politics," she huffed before lamenting, "What's going to become of New York City?" 

A MAGA Republican, scared shitless that a democratic socialist will become mayor of a city 850 miles away. 

Construction of Atlanta's Cop City cost $90 to $100 million dollars, with the funds primarily paid to the Atlanta Police Foundation and its contractors, primarily Brasfield & Gorrie. A B&G division manager serves on the APF advisory board, and B&G made a $1.03 million pledge to the APF. B&G claims the donation has nothing to do with their role in Cop City, they're just nice guys, but it smells of corruption to me.

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens has consistently supported Cop City and has spoken out against protests against the project. He has insisted that construction continue despite community opposition. Although over 116,000 signatures were collected opposing the project and demanding a referendum, the city delayed the process by quibbling over formatting and then proposing signature-matching software for verification. These legal and administrative roadblocks prevented a vote from happening before construction of Cop City was completed. 

Dickens was behind it all. He didn't stand up for the Atlanta residents who understandably didn't want the development in their back yards. He didn't give any support to the larger number of Atlanta residents concerned about the further militarization of the police. He didn't condemn the Georgia State Patrol for murdering one of his citizens in a midnight raid on protesters. He didn't stand up to the Georgia Attorney General when he brought RICO racketeering charges not only against the protesters but against charities raising funds for legal support. 

He did not get my vote.

That lady in line in front of me may be worried about what's going to happen to New York City, but this ROM (retired old man) standing behind her is worried about what's going to happen to Atlanta. We're already the most surveilled city in the country and the Georgia National Guard has already mobilized to Washington D.C. for the Stable Genius' whatever-the-fuck-it-is he's doing up there. The Stable Genius has ordered each state to create a National Guard unit specifically trained to combat protests and civil unrest, and Andre Dickens already has a training facility at the ready for them. Dickens is a tool of the militarized police state, a useful idiot for the fascist MAGA machine, and he's failed the people of Atlanta.