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TODAY'S
ISSUE
Norcross resident
raises questions for Rep. Tom Rice
By Bob Prichard
Special to GwinnettForum.com
(Editor's Note: After Rep. Tom Rice made comments
concerning one Gwinnett city, a resident raised some questions
for him. Here is that correspondence. -eeb)
SEPT. 2, 2005 -- Representative Rice, I am a Norcross citizen.
Specifically, I reside in the city of Norcross proper, in the
30071 zip code that is similar to the actual boundaries of the
city, less the industrial area past Buford Highway. I am not a
Peachtree Corners resident like you with a "Norcross"
postal address.
While this means I am not in your district, we are in a real sense
neighbors. Having read your quote in a recent AJC regarding your
desire for Peachtree Corners to be established as a city, I have
a few questions.
1. As a Representative whose district is "Norcross,"
do you feel it's appropriate for you to characterize Norcross
in a public meeting as being marked by "shootings, rapes,
and pillaging," from which you would like to disassociate
yourself?
2. Are you aware of the crime rate within the actual city of
Norcross, in support of your statement?
3. Have you considered that most crime identified in the AJC
as having occurred in "Norcross" actually occurs outside
the Norcross city limits (including, in some cases, Peachtree
Corners), amounting to misinformation regarding the safety and
desirability of the city of Norcross?
4. Do you realize the degree to which you have furthered that
misinformation with your public statement?
5. Are you, as a State Representative, doing anything to address
the rampant shootings, rapes, and pillaging you feel plague
Norcross?
6. Has there really been any "pillaging" anywhere
in the postal area designated as "Norcross?"
* * * * *
Again, I realize that I reside just outside your district, but
as we are both "Norcross citizens" and are neighbors,
I'm sure you would like to clarify your position, and I eagerly
await your response.
* * * *
Rep. Rice sent this note to me:
Mr. Prichard: Thank you for your note. I want
you to know that I love and enjoy Old Norcross and Mayor Webb
is probably one of the best in the country.
When I was speaking of "Norcross" it was with reference
to the postal zone coverage of Norcross and not the city. That
was made clear later in the meeting.
I really do believe that the generic "Norcross," datelined
in so many AJC articles relating accounts of felonious activity,
is detrimental to property values in the Peachtree Corners area
I represent. Therefore, having our own identity is important
to most of the residents.
Your questions with regard to what we have done about the problems
faced by "Norcross" are right on mark. Since I have
been in the legislature we have passed tough street gangs bills
along with anti graffiti bills and toughened felony penalties.
I personally have worked with the UNITE effort in our area to
involve churches in addressing youth violence. I support the
Jimmy Carter CID and redevelopment efforts aimed at reinvigorating
the neighborhoods.
It is a tough job to even attempt to deal with whole neighborhoods
where demographic changes have allowed a deterioration in quality
of life. To the extent the law can change to effect better solutions,
we would like to do it. If you have any suggestions they would
be welcome.
Please forgive me if my comments stirred your ire.
* * * * *
Representative Rice, I appreciate your taking the time to respond.
Still, your comments were irresponsibly over-the-top, thoughtlessly
demeaning of your neighbors, and unnecessarily inflammatory.
It is ironic that you claim to "hate to read about the shootings
and the rapes and the pillage," when your public proclamation,
with the press present, ensured that people the next day would
read exactly that, courtesy of a State Representative no less.
If you truly love and enjoy Norcross, please refrain from publicly
damning it. One of the biggest challenges we face, as you acknowledge,
is public perception, which many of us are working hard to correct.
You have succeeded in setting us back substantially.
ELLIOTT
BRACK
Former local banker now in Florida talks
of hurricanes
By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher
GwinnettForum.com
SEPT. 2, 2005 -- Hurricane Katrina has been the focus of many
of us lately, even though the Gwinnett area is not drastically
affected as are many people. We've been overwhelmed with the television
reporting, though often feeling the repetition of the news over
and over. The next morning's newspaper report is far more complete,
usually, and adds more perspective to what we've seen on television.
And then we've had the added input from the internet.
Former Flowery Branch (on Lake Lanier) residents Bonnie and Don
McEnery live in Niceville, Fla., on the bay. He was a banker in
Gwinnett. Though his area was not hit by Katrina directly, still
it was on the more dangerous east side of the storm. We asked
him how it was during the storm, and got from him this reply in
sketch form.
"Our damage in Niceville truly pales when we assess it.
We lost our pier again, had seawall damage and bayside lawn erosion,
along with minor roof problems. We are not whining about it and
feel very lucky to have come through in pretty good shape. Ivan
and Dennis took their tolls on us earlier and it looked for awhile
like Katrina was headed right for us
"We live on the north side of the bay (Choctawhatchee) with
winds as high as 70-90 mph. Winds started out of the southeast
then switched to the south (moving north). We had about five inches
of rain and the bay over-ran the seawall and came up into the
lot next door about 35 feet. We never heard a storm surge height
for our side of the bay.
"Our seawall and retaining wall kept the tides from coming
onto our property. The winds and rain continued into the night
on Monday and finally slacked off in the wee hours. Monday morning
it was almost dark (at 10 a.m. or so), with the cloud ceiling
seemed to be touching the bay. I stood in our living room and
watched our pier break up and come apart. We are 55 feet from
the water. The waves were hitting our seawall and drenching the
bayside of our home (a stinging, hurting spray).
"We are not replacing our pier this time. We've been down
here five years and built/rebuilt the pier five times. I'm waving
the white flag this time.
"A local plumber and longtime resident was over doing some
work for us. About the storms, he kinda laughed, and said 'All
you folks move down here to the coast/water and all us natives
have spent a lifetime trying to get off this damn water.'
"Unless you live on the bay, Niceville proper looks the
same. Over on the beach (Destin- Fort Walton Beach) they are dealing
with severe erosion and many of the streets were closed. Some
homes are leaning, in that we just took a hit from Dennis in July,
etc.
"We are starting to see a lot of 'For Sale' signs over on
the Gulf side. Yes, there are some bargains to be had, if you
can stand the stress, strain and expense, etc.
"We locally really did dodge a bullet this time. The worrisome
thing is that the hurricane season still has three months to run.
I must tell you, we watch the Weather Channel more than any other
channel since moving to Florida five years ago."
* * * * *
Thanks, Don, for an eyewitness view of the storm. We tend to
agree. That pier seems to be in harm's way every time. Re-building
to be destroyed again may not be the right move.
* * * * *
Be alert to scams
concerning Hurricane Katrina
This from a friend: It hasn't taken long for criminals to try
to take advantage of the sympathy all of us feel toward the victims
of Hurricane Katrina. There are already 'phishing' e-mails pretending
to be solicitations from the Red Cross that have links embedded
in them that will take you to a fake Red Cross Web site. Do not
respond to any e-mail soliciting donations from the Red Cross
or other organizations. Go directly to their Web site or call
them to make donations. If you receive one of these e-mails, please
e-mail the information to the Red Cross.
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McLEMORE'S
WORLD
Hurricane
Katrina
Another great cartoon from Bill McLemore:
FEEDBACK
9/2: One benefit
could have had an affirmative effect
Editor, the Forum:
Just learned something new - didn't know you were from Macon!
I spent 12 delightful years just north of there (Forsyth) in an
old farm house in the country. It's where Tom and I raised the
kids, for the most part.
Your story on Jim Parker suggests to me that an argument could
be made that a benefit of "affirmative action" policies
for admission at our universities (which they often don't get
by with) attempts to ensure that talent stays within the state.
When black students (and other minorities) go out of state to
college (because they missed out in some "perceived sense
of fairness" in admission criteria), most likely those students
don't come back to their home state. This topic was always fun
to bring up in state and local government class to get students
talking about college admission policies.
-- Pat Mitchell, West Jefferson, N.C.
9/2: Interesting absence of outrage on the part of people
Editor, the Forum;
Over the last few months the Atlanta Journal-Constitution
has waged a continued attack against the Gwinnett County Commission
and School Board over their methods for acquiring property. The
state attorney general recently joined the fray with an opinion
that Gwinnett's land acquisition process violates the state open
meeting law.
The absence of outrage from our citizens would seem to indicate
the influence of the AJC is limited within our county. Perhaps
the AJC would find a more receptive audience if it turned its
attention to the problems with the Atlanta schools, infrastructure,
deteriorating airport, or any of the myriad of "inside the
perimeter" issues.
Secondly, I do not see the Attorney General rushing to file suit
against either the School Board or Commission on behalf of the
state's citizens. Wouldn't that be the appropriate action if he
had faith in his own opinion?
Our School Board members and County Commissioners have been elected
to spend our tax dollars wisely. I doubt they would knowingly
violate state statutes. Could it be that they and their attorneys
believe they are in compliance with the open meeting statutes?
Could it be that they actually are?
Finally I think these issues serve as an important reminder to
all of us. The United States is not a democracy but rather a republic.
The people do not get to make the decisions, they get to elect
their representatives who make the decisions.
I believe it's time to let our Board and Commission do just that
and if we are not satisfied with those decisions, then let's elect
new representatives.
-- Patrick Malone, Snellville
9/2: There's a reason
for Southerners to commute more in cars
Editor, the Forum:
I just heard a story on NPR news to the effect that Southerners
spend more time commuting and spend more money on gasoline.
This is due to the fact that their development plans emphasize
pavement and do not generally include any kind of public transit
(including commuter rail.)
They also came to the (obvious) conclusion that Southerners are
paying the price, both literally and figuratively, for their choices.
-- Bob Hanson, Loganville
REVIEW
- An invitation: What
Web sites, books or restaurants have you enjoyed? Send us your
best recent visit to a restaurant or most recent book you have
read along with a short paragraph as to why you liked it, plus
what book you plan to read next. --eeb
GEORGIA
TIDBIT
9/2: George Walton served State of Georgia
in many capacities
(Second of a series about signers of the
Declaration of Independence from Georgia.)
George Walton was one of three Georgians to sign the Declaration
of Independence. He served in numerous capacities for the state
of Georgia after the American Revolution.
 The
exact year of Walton's birth is unknown; it is believed that he
was born in 1749 in Virginia. In 1769 he moved to Savannah, where
he pursued a legal career. By the eve of the American Revolution
he was one of the most successful lawyers in Georgia. Active in
Georgia's Revolutionary government, he was elected to the Provincial
Congress and then became president of the Council of Safety in
1775. In 1776 he served as a delegate to the Second Continental
Congress in Philadelphia, where on July 4 he signed the Declaration
(along with Button Gwinnett and Lyman Hall of Georgia).
Returning to Savannah, Walton was captured during the 1778 British
assault on the city, led by Archibald Campbell. After his exchange
he returned to Georgia and was elected governor in 1779, having
switched allegiances from the conservative to the radical faction.
He served for two controversial months before reelection to Congress.
After the Revolution Walton served as chief justice of Georgia,
as a delegate to the state constitutional convention in 1788 that
ratified the new federal constitution, as a presidential elector
in 1789, as governor that same year, as U.S. senator (appointed
by the legislature when James Jackson stepped down to fight the
Yazoo Land Act), and as a justice of the state superior court.
He eventually retired in the 1780s to his Augusta home, where
he died on February 2, 1804. Walton is buried in Augusta. Walton
County is named for him.
THOUGHT
OF THE DAY
Consider this before
you think about frowning
"Before you put on a frown, make absolutely sure there are
no smiles available."
-- Author Jim Beggs via Cindy Evans, Duluth
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