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TODAY'S
ISSUE
Liquor by drink referendum
in Norcross draws response
By
Pat Eidt
Norcross
Special to GwinnettForum.com
MARCH 25, 2003 - - Norcross citizens need to understand the facts
of the upcoming (June 17) "Liquor By the Drink" (LBTD)
initiative.
I am a 55-year-old homeowner, living here for two years. I am having
a love affair with everything that is Norcross! I love the people,
the community, the park, the businesses. After considering the pros
and cons, I am in favor of the LBTD initiative. I also fully understand
the concerns of many residents who oppose it.
Many question if traffic will increase and impact our peaceful
community. Other folks offer opposition on religious beliefs or
personal misfortune. Some people simply dislike change and fear
of the unknown. All of these arguments are rational and should be
debated regarding LBTD. This is good.
On the other hand, the business community has a need for growth.
They need an infusion of new customers. Many existing stores are
in poor financial shape due to lack of volume. Study after study
indicates that LBTD has been a successful policy in communities
similar to Norcross and always result in increased quality shoppers.
Those communities report minimal affects to the overall quality
of life. The business community deserves to express their economic
concerns. This is, also, good.
As a citizen, I want to have the freedom to enjoy a full service
restaurant, watch existing businesses grow and prosper and see new
businesses established. This improves the quality of life and property
values. Each citizen must have a voice. This is essential.
All residents determine the ordinances based on existing Georgia
and Gwinnett county law through the City Council. Food sale requirements,
hours of operation, Sunday sales, etc., are all controlled by us.
My concern is the misinformation that is already being raised. At
a recent meeting, one opponent expressed concerns over exploding
taxes due to increased police enforcement to round up the drunks.
There was no basis cited for this comment. Another stated that nude
bars and porn dealers would flourish and drunken drivers would rule
the streets. This was hysteria. A sickening racial comment was directed
toward how some in the Hispanic community would take immoral advantage
of LBTD. I understand passion, but we cannot let racism enter the
debate without challenging it vigorously. We must make our decisions
based on facts, not fear and fiction.
Hopefully, city, civic, business, church and homeowner associations
will have upcoming forums to express opinions from BOTH sides. I
urge citizens to evaluate the debate and make an informed decision.
ELLIOTT
BRACK
As
Sugar Hill considers police, look at some history
By
Elliott Brack
editor and publisher
GwinnettForum.com
MARCH 25, 2003 -- Before the Sugar Hill City Council may soon be
a proposal for that City to have its own police department. Councilman
Ron Johnson is proposing that Sugar Hill have its own force.
It's a good time to re-visit history.
At the end of December, 1975, the City of Buford saw a way to cut
expenses. By eliminating its police department, the city figured
it would save, at that time, something like $250,000 a year, and
still have police protection. You see, if a city within a county
does not have police protection, the county is required by state
law to handle that aspect of public safety.
That's the route that Buford took. Then in 1980, Buford eliminated
its Fire Department, again allowing the county to provide that service.
(Buford's homeowners possibly saved money in their fire insurance
coverage, since the county's insurance rating is class IV, much
lower than the previous county level of class X, which was costly.)
So, today, Buford is policed and covered for fire protection regularly
by Gwinnett County.
Some say that Buford also gained in another way, since a Police
Department can cause great commotion and consternation for elected
city officials. Local police departments are often headaches, if
politicians get too active in the operation of that department.
Seems that citizens are often ready to pounce on a city police department,
going to elected commissioners to complain. Public officials often
cite far less problems when the police are divorced from the political
arena.
Most larger Gwinnett cities have their own police forces. These
include Lawrenceville, Duluth, Snellville, Lilburn, Suwanee, and
Norcross. (Cities partially in Gwinnett, Loganville, Braselton and
Auburn, also have their own police departments.) Citizens in these
towns have the benefit of a locally-directed system, and many cite
the benefits of having police close at hand. Another benefit for
such departments is that they can call on the county police, for
backup, if needed.
My own town of Norcross has had its own police force for years.
Citizens of Norcross enjoy seeing more visible patrolmen in the
city. They feel that the police are closer to them. They also have
at least one additional benefit many consider important.
It's called the "Senior Call In" program. Norcross senior
citizens who live alone can register for this special service at
no cost. Then each day they routinely call the police station, at
a time they determine, to report that they are "OK."
If the citizen does not call the station each morning, the police
first call them, then if no answer, are dispatched to that citizen's
residence to check on them. In several instances, Norcross police
have found residents incapacitated, and given assistance.
Norcross Police Chief Richard Miller likes the program. "It
gives these citizens who live alone, and their families, peace of
mind. And it send good will, shows we really care, and are appreciated
by the residents." You can see where Norcross citizens would
like such personal service, and why Norcross residents appreciate
their police.
Should Sugar Hill get its own police force, here is one small way
a closer link can be established between citizens and police.
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and parts and service.
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FEEDBACK
3/25: Questions about
Sunday sports and quality of life
Editor, the Forum:
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on Brigham Young University
not allowing its athletes to participate in intercollegiate sports
on the Sabbath Day with your readers. During the time period when
our children were engaged in various sports and cultural activities
it was seldom necessary to make a decision regarding events on
Sunday.
I remember only one occasion in which we had to make a decision
about participating on Sunday and fortunately when the Varsity
Basketball Coach realized that Lee Gibson was not coming to the
Sunday practice it was canceled. I'm sure that now it would be
considered very juvenile to even voice an objection much less
not participate.
Sometimes I question just how much progress we are making in
enhancing the "quality of life" of which we seem to
be constantly seeking. I suppose as we age there is, predictably,
a longing for the patterns of our youth, but I readily admit I
miss quiet Sundays at home with our family after Church services,
stores closing at noon on Wednesday and Saturday movie double-headers
with a cartoon in between.
Thankfully there are some institutions like BYU where the almighty
dollar is not enough to purchase character or values.
-- Janet Gibson, Lawrenceville
3/25: Liked comments
about Chamber of Commerce president
Editor, the Forum:
Your story recently on Richard Tucker was great. A nice tribute
to him and to you for recognizing it. Proud of you.
-- Andy Miller, Lawrenceville
McLEMORE'S
WORLD
War convoy
UPCOMING
EVENTS
3/25: Congressman
announces artistic discovery competition
Congressman John Linder (R-Georgia) is calling on all Seventh
District high school students with an eye for art to try their
hand at the 22nd annual Congressional art competition, "An
Artistic Discovery."
Entries must be submitted to Rep. Linder's Duluth office by
April 17, 2003 and must be from high school students of public,
private or home schools located in Georgia's Seventh District.
The artwork must be original, of no larger than 32 x 32 inches
(including the frame) and no more than four inches in depth.
Entries must fall within the following categories: paintings
(oils, acrylics, watercolor); drawings (pastels, colored pencil,
pencil, charcoal, ink, markers, etc.); prints (lithographs,
silkscreen, block prints); collage (must be two-dimensional);
computer graphics; or photography.
Each entry must be an original concept and cannot violate U.S.
copyright laws.
The winner will be invited to attend the opening of the national
exhibition on June 24, 2003, at the U.S. Capitol, where his
or her work will be displayed in the hall leading to the Cannon
House Office Building for one year.
Congressman Linder will also hold an awards ceremony at the
Cherokee County Justice Center in Canton on May 3, 2003. Among
awards will be a $12,000 scholarship to the Savannah College
of Art and Design and a $10,000 scholarship to the Art Institute
of Atlanta.
For more information and a copy of the entry form, please contact
Annie Valenty in Congressman Linder's Duluth Office at (770)
232-3005.
3/25: Hopewell
plans bells for remembrance kickoff
The Bells for Remembrance Celebration is a public awareness
program that provides information about breast health and encourages
women to schedule an annual mammogram and clinical breast exam
and to perform monthly breast self examinations.
Goal of the Bells for Remembrance program is to increase awareness
of the importance of good breast health, and assure that women
are aware of the resources within the community for information,
screening, treatment and support. Persons are encouraged to
participate in breast cancer awareness activities by sponsoring
the Bells for Remembrance program at church congregation, worksite,
and community locations. Early detection of breast cancer saves
lives!
Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church will be sponsoring a Bells
for Remembrance kickoff event on April 15, 2003 from 11 a.m.
until 1 p.m. at Faith Hall, 182 Hunter Street, Norcross. Persons
wanting to attend this event, should respond by April 7 to 404-982-7549
or via email at cpickens@gmcf.org
THOUGHT
OF THE DAY
Words in verse with
double meaning
"PASSING SCHOOL ZONE
TAKE IT SLOW.
LET OUR LITTLE
SHAVERS GROW
*** Burma Shave ***"
- - passed on by Vic Nickelson, Dacula
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