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TODAY'S
ISSUE
Gwinnettian responds
to address by Sen. Zell Miller
By
Betsy Corley Pickren
Special to GwinnettForum.com
(Editor's Note: this is one Gwinnettian's reaction
after hearing Georgia Democrat Zell Miller address the Republican
National Convention on Wednesday. How did that speech hit you?
Tell us your response to it, or to the writer's letter.-eeb)
Dear Senator Miller,
I have just finished listening to your speech at the Republican
National
Convention. I can hardly stop shaking. I am sitting here in utter
disbelief that a person of integrity could make the speech you made
- as we say in the South, "in front of God and everybody".
I respect your right to disagree with your former political party;
to stand up for what you believe is right; to make your personal
choice between the candidates for President. Zell Miller has always
been a man of passionate beliefs. One of the things I have always
admired about you is that you are not afraid to be unpopular. But
tonight you stepped over the line.
In your speech you accused Democrats of letting partisan politics
get in the way of the best interests of this country. The last time
I looked at our political structure, different points of view formed
the foundation of what we call democracy. People I know from both
parties crave a free and peaceful world where our families will
be safe for generations to come.
You and your Republican friends are not the only ones with families
you love. Our disagreement is on the actions that will make that
dream come true. You suggested that Democrats do not support the
soldiers. Whether we see them as occupiers or liberators has absolutely
no bearing on the bravery of those who serve. It has to do with
the foreign policy strategy designed and carried out by the occupants
of the White House. I had tears in my eyes as I heard you accuse
me of not supporting those individuals who are putting their lives
on line every minute for me.
When you dissed Jimmy Carter, one of this country's statesmen,
I came out of my chair. You said the party was wrong when "they"
chose the "pacifism" of Carter. When Democrats and all
Americans chose Jimmy Carter to be President, the pronoun you used
was "we". I do not understand how you can turn your back
on a person whom you supported wholeheartedly in Georgia. From what
I have read, I am coming to the conclusion that your anger has led
you to cut ties with many of your former friends. I find that sad.
At least I congratulate you for not accusing Max Cleland of cowardice.
You did do something right.
I supported you in your campaigns for Lt. Governor and for Governor.
And I was instrumental in organizing a Young Harris College "thank
you" party in the courthouse in Lawrenceville when you left
office. I was thrilled when you finally went to Washington as our
Senator. And I thought that one day I might work with you again
to strengthen the leadership of the Democratic Party in Georgia.
That dream is dead.
I am not a "yellow dog" Democrat. I will vote for some
Republicans in this election. George W. Bush will not be one of
them, however. I disagree with his strategy and his tactics. I have
that right. I am an American. I believe that you can be for something
without turning your back on everything and everybody who got you
where you are today - people who have loved and respected you. When
you launched your hate filled attack on John Kerry, I lost the meaning
of your words in the anger of them. I expect more from you.
Since I first met you when I was a student at Young Harris College
almost 30 years ago, you have been a beacon in my life. I thank
you for that. But the light has gone out.
Respectfully,
Betsy Corley Pickren, Duluth
ELLIOTT
BRACK
Pact
to give Gwinnett cities bigger portion of SPLOST funds
By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher
GwinnettForum.com
SEPT. 3, 2004 -- It's not rocket science, but then, it's not all
that simple, either. After all, you have 16 governmental bodies
trying to agree on ways to split a money pot. If you have ever witnessed
such maneuvering, you can appreciate the difficulty….and the
tedious, boring detail involved.
 In
Gwinnett County, when you start tinkering with the Special Purpose
Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST), you're talking big dollars. The
county government, along with the 15 cities of Gwinnett, were at
the table, seeking to present to voters recommendations for collection
of the additional penny in tax. A new state law, pushed by the Georgia
Municipal Association, ended up giving the cities more input into
distribution of sales tax funds.
The four year collection is anticipated to produce $550 million
in revenue. Put it in terms a little more understandable for an
average guy, that means the sales tax will bring in $11.45 million
each month! The vote on extending the tax for four years is November
2.
And in addition, with the School Board also having a one per cent
tax for school construction, that's another $11.45 million that
is anticipated being collected each year. Another way to look at
it, the net effect of adding a penny for the county and a penny
for schools amounts to $22 million a month for Gwinnett. That's
much more than the entire budget of some Georgia counties! And….remember
those from other counties shopping in Gwinnett help pay a big portion
of this tax.
What will be different if voters agree to extend the sales tax
is that in this SPLOST, up front, the cities are getting their "fair
share" of the taxes. The county agreed to give the 15 cities
of Gwinnett the portion of the collections as represented by the
population of the cities. With 20.14 percent of Gwinnett's 2000
population living in the cities, they will get 20.14 percent of
the collections.
That seems eminently fair to us. In previous sales tax collections,
the cities got about five percent of the collections.
Each of Gwinnett cities have announced how they would spend the
SPLOST monies, as is required. The cities have their own needs,
some of them innovative. Among them:
- Lilburn: A three mile trail from the Lions Club Park at Rockbridge
Road, following the alignment of Camp Creek, will wind all the
way to Arcado Road. It's a massive project, and part of the SPLOST
monies is anticipated to help pay for it.
- Sugar Hill: Anticipated is a new recreational facility to supplement
the crowded facilities, plus additional parks land.
- Norcross: Construction of a center for arts, senior activities
and theatre to resemble the Old School House, at the site of the
current log cabin in the downtown area.
- Lawrenceville: The city is working on the possibility of an
amphitheatre for the downtown area.
- Loganville: Among projects, the city anticipates building a
community room for use by its citizens.
The county government says it anticipates spending its portion
on: $180 million for recreational facilities; $87 million for public
safety; $13.8 million for libraries; and $180 million for roads,
streets and bridges.
Since 1985, Gwinnett has collected $1.367 billion in SPLOST funds.
Had these funds not been available, in this fast-growing county,
the property tax burden would have been onerous.
Civic leaders will soon crank up a campaign to urge voters to approve
of the continuation of the penny sales tax for infrastructure improvements.
With the 15 cities on board, its passage should be improved.
ABOUT
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and trucks. Hayes has been in the automotive business for over 30
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The family is the winner of the 2002 Georgia Family Business of
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For a list of other sponsors of this forum, go to: http://www.gwinnettforum.com/about/sponsors.htm.
McLEMORE'S
WORLD
9/3: Padding the books
Another cartoon from Bill McLemore:
FEEDBACK
9/3: Finds Atlanta
History Center to be marvelous facility
Editor, the Forum:
The day I read your article about Atlanta cultural sights, I had
an appointment that very afternoon with Michael Rose, the director
of the Kenan Research Center there, to have him look at some items
that were recently found in my parent's attic that I thought would
have pertinence to Atlanta's history,
To my shame, until that day, this Atlanta native of 55 had never
been to the Center. I was absolutely astounded....what a marvelous
facility! I knew exactly where it was and have passed it many times
but never knew what was really in those woods!
I ended up spending almost two hours there with Michael as he went
through all the items. (That's another story: my grandmother had
a speech/elocution, dance and expression school in West End from
1911 until 1938 and taught some of Atlanta's "finest"
as she was wont to say. I had so much stuff that I just couldn't
throw away and they took it all for safekeeping!). I told Michael
I'd never been there and he said, sadly, that he hears that a lot
from us natives!
I'm so thrilled to have made this "discovery" and can't
wait to take my grandchildren in the future. I've always loved Atlanta
and have so many wonderful memories of growing up here when it was
still a small city but have stories my mom and grandmother have
told me about it being a small town!
The other joy I had is knowing that my family memorabilia is now
in safekeeping for many to enjoy. In this box we also found a handwritten
genealogy from 1897 written as a narrative about a branch of my
grandmother's family (Waters) from around Spartanburg. It starts
with the founding of the Virginia colonies! It's been in my parent's
attic since my grandmother's death over 30 years ago! But, it is
thankfully intact and fairly readable. After some family members
get to see it, I am taking it to the Center where it will remain,
safely, for anyone interested in looking at it or doing historical
research.
I applaud you in including the Center in your suggestion of places
to visit. Next....do one with cheap places to take your grandchildren
that won't break a single grandmother's budget!!!
-- Barbara Smith, Tucker
Dear Barbara: you are not alone in not visiting
some of Atlanta treasures. I sometimes think that visitors to
the city often know more about it than people who live here, and
maybe many who have lived here a long time. Perhaps our readers
will help on where to take grandkids on a budget! --eeb
9/3: Feels Kerry insulted, accused, denigrated other soldiers
Editor, the Forum:
The writer ("UPSET OVER VIETNAM VETERANS BEING ATTACKED DURING
CAMPAIGN", August 31) seems to have forgotten that John Kerry
himself, upon returning home from his brief tour in Viet Nam, insulted,
accused, and denigrated not only himself, but every other soldier
that served in that war with his statements to the government hearings
and to the press.
He is also the one who started this campaign with his Viet Nam
service as the prime qualification for his run for the presidency.
He is the one who wants to gain politically from his record. His
dissenters have nothing to gain by telling the truth. The men who
are questioning his qualifications were there. They know what happened.
It's all a matter of who you believe. As far as the last 14 words
of the writer's statement, ("No one has the right to belittle
or degrade their service to our country.") everyone has the
right.
-- Lynn Everly, Suwanee
BOOK
RECOMMENDATION
From Dean Booth
Atlanta attorney
"The two best books I have read in the past five years, which
also happen to be books I read this year, are From Dawn to Decadence
by Barsun and The Wealth of Nations - Why Some Nations Are
Rich and Others Are Poor by Damon Landes. It happens that Barsun
is a professor at Columbia University and Landes is a professor
at Harvard, but I think the fact that they both are professors is
only coincidental.
"Every American over 30 should read Who Are We by Huntington.
It will chill your blood. He is also a Harvard professor, of history."
- An invitation: What books have you enjoyed? Send us your
best recent book along with a short paragraph as to why you liked
it, plus what you plan to read next. --eeb
ENCYCLOPEDIA
TIDBIT
9/3: Old Governor's
Mansion restored in 2001 to landmark status
The Old Governor's Mansion is located in Milledgeville, the state's
capital from 1807 to 1868. In 1835 the Georgia legislature resolved
to construct the first official residence for the governor. Construction
on the Old Governor's Mansion began in 1836 and was completed in
1838 or 1839. The mansion was erected in the Greek Revival style.
It is considered one of the finest examples of that style in the
nation. The building, a three-story stucco-over-brick structure,
features a central rotunda and a massive Ionic portico.
 The
mansion served as the home of nine governors and their families,
until the removal of the capital to Atlanta in 1868. The mansion
was the seat of executive power during several turbulent periods
in Georgia history, from the removal of the Cherokees in the 1830s
to the Civil War in the 1860s.
With the removal of the capital in 1868, the mansion was virtually
abandoned to state-appointed caretakers. When Middle Georgia Military
and Agricultural College (later Georgia Military College) was chartered
in 1879, the building was converted into a barracks for the institution's
cadets. In 1891 it became the home of the president of the new Georgia
Normal and Industrial College (later Georgia College and State University).
The structure served as the home of each successive college president
until 1987. The building is the oldest structure on the university's
campus.
In 1973 the Old Governor's Mansion was designated a National Historic
Landmark by the Trust for Historic Preservation and now serves as
a historic house museum open for public tours. In late 2001 the
house began undergoing major renovations designed to produce a full
and accurate historic restoration.
THOUGHT OF THE DAY
Good way for you to
tell when an expert is around
"An expert is somebody who is more than 50 miles from home,
has no responsibility for implementing the advice he gives, and
shows slides."
-- Former U.S. Attorney General Edwin Meese III, via Marshall
Miller, Lilburn.
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is an online community commentary for exploring pragmatic and sensible
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