There is a major development proposal going before the Woodstock City Council tonight, and if the past few years have taught us anything about how this council operates, it is that the decisions they make in that chamber rarely reflect what residents actually want. The least we can do is make sure our voices are in the room. The hearing is at 7 p.m. tonight, Monday, April 27, at Chambers at City Center, 8534 Main St. in downtown Woodstock. Be there. Here is what is on the t

On Monday night, I stood at the Woodstock City Council podium and talked about Cherokee County students being held in ICE detention. They cut my mic, called the police, and had me escorted out. I finished the statement anyway. Mayor Caldwell accused me of breaking the law and threatened me with a misdemeanor. The police let me go without incident. Tracy Collins smiled. Read the full story — including the complete statement and the Girl Scout who stayed to watch it happen.

Tonight's agenda is long, and most of it will pass quickly with little public debate. That's by design — the "consent agenda" bundles many items into a single vote. Several of those items involve significant public money, contracts with private firms, and decisions that affect Woodstock residents directly. This guide explains what's happening, why it matters, and how you can make your voice heard. You do not need to be an expert to participate. You just need to show up.

Budget corrections after the fact. Taxpayer money quietly backstopping programs that were sold as self-sustaining. Developer-friendly enforcement. Strategic direction shaped in retreats and executive sessions. Public meetings used for approval, not deliberation. And now, executive sessions moved earlier in the evening so fewer people are around when the real business gets handled. This is how decisions get made without accountability. Show up. Read the agenda packet. Ask h

Two of us stood quietly at the entrance with small signs: "No ICE in Cherokee," "Abolish ICE Now," and "What Would Jesus Do?" featuring Jesus flipping tables. Some people who arrived scoffed. Some mocked. I smiled and said, "Hope you have the day you voted for." When that lands wrong, it is because people know, somewhere inside, that these policies cause real harm. They just want the harm inflicted on others.

The Woodstock Planning Commission is meeting tonight, and several items on the agenda directly affect community growth, safety, sustainability, and fairness in development. You can read the full agenda and packet here: https://www.woodstockga.gov/your_government/meetings_agendas_and_minutes.php Item 3.1 – CUP#090-25: “Rally Yard” Indoor Pickleball & Dog Lounge (7654 & 7664 Main Street) The proposal is for an indoor pickleball facility and dog lounge on Main Street. Packet pag

Yesterday, 3,000 to 4,000 of us took to the streets of Woodstock to say: No Kings. No Violence. No Arrests. No Property Damage. Just Power. The only incident police reported was a minor scuffle between one of ours and a counter-protester—an incident that could’ve been avoided if our folks had stuck to the plan: don’t engage, move away, call 911. Otherwise? We showed up focused, peaceful, and united. We looked good—and the city saw it. Chief Robert Jones coordinating with one

Woodstock Council Passes New Restrictions on Public Events—While Ignoring Constitutional Rights WOODSTOCK, GA — On Monday, May 12, the Woodstock City Council voted 5–0 to approve sweeping changes to the city’s special events ordinance, making it harder for local residents to organize public events, visibility actions, and protests—even on sidewalks. The vote came just hours after Indivisible Woodstock CAN submitted a revised event plan and paid a $50 application fee for its

One of our safety volunteers works to keep the sidewalk clear for pedestrians to pass and monitors another volunteer who is stepping off the curb to cross the street legally at a crosswalk with cooperation of a stopped driver. The City of Woodstock is attempting to intimidate and suppress peaceful political protest. Over the past several weeks, city officials have escalated efforts to pressure Indivisible Woodstock CAN—a volunteer-run community group committed to civic engage