An Americus fortuneteller has sued over Georgia law that lets local governments bar her trade. But Gainesville Councilman George Wangemann, who stood firm for this city's prohibition on psychics last year, doesn't foresee changes here.
Nor has the Buford psychic who wanted to open shop in Gainesville mounted a new challenge.
Wangemann heard Friday about the lawsuit that, according to media reports, Angie Marks of Americus filed in federal court in Atlanta earlier this week. Marks wanted to move her palm-reading business to Jonesboro in 2004. The city balked, denying a license and approving a ban, according to the account.
The suit targets a 1950s state law that gives counties the power to prohibit, regulate and tax future-focused businesses varying from palm-reading to astrology. A spokesman for the attorney general's office said the state's response is due within a month.
Gainesville council faced a similar stand-off late last year. Bobby Marks pressed for a business license for his wife, longtime fortuneteller Sabrina Marks, no relation to the Americus clairvoyant. City planning staff even recommended allowing psychics and related trades in industrial zones, although the Marks argued for a less-restrictive zoning.
But council members voted 4-1 in December to simply continue the ban.
Wangemann still isn't budging. As for fortunetelling, "We would like to keep it out of Gainesville," he said Friday. "This is what I would call a community values issue."
The Marks' attorney threatened a lawsuit in December, according to newspaper accounts. None has been filed.
Sabrina Marks said Friday she still wants to work in Gainesville but as for a legal claim, "nothing has been set yet."
Asked about possible effects from the federal lawsuit, Marks said, "I guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens."
Contact: rlavender@gainesvilletimes.com, (770) 718-3411.
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