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Leaders' feud kills tax cut, transportation,
trauma care
By
Rep. Hugh Floyd
State Representative, District 99
Special to GwinnettForum.com
NORCROSS, Ga., April 11, 2008 -- The talk of the 2008 legislative
session, from beginning to end, was tax relief. A number of proposals
to reduce Georgians' property taxes, automobile tag taxes and income
taxes were discussed and passed by either the House of Representatives
or the Senate. But when all was said and done, much more was said
than done.
Floyd |
Because House Speaker Glenn Richardson and Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle
could not agree on a final form of tax relief legislation by the
end of the session last Friday, Georgians will continue to pay their
automobile tax each year on their birthday and the full amount of
their state income tax. Nor will there be a property tax valuation
assessment freeze.
Another major issue the Republican leadership failed to address
is Georgia's transportation funding crisis. Although the House approved
an amended version of SR 845, which would have authorized a multi-county,
one-cent transportation sales tax on a regional basis, if approved
by the voters in those counties, the Senate failed to agree to the
measure. Georgians will continue to sit in traffic longer or wait
on much-needed road and bridge improvements to be completed because
of this failure.
A third victim of the in-fighting between House and Senate Republicans
was Georgia's trauma care system, which faces a severe funding shortfall.
An agreement on details of a $10 car tag renewal fee that would
have provided $74 million in revenues for trauma care could not
be reached before midnight on the 40th and final day of the session.
Both the House and Senate did agree on the final version of a $21.2
billion annual state budget for fiscal year 2009, which begins July
1, 2008. HB 990 includes a 2.5 percent pay raise for educators and
other state employees, $1 billion in school construction projects,
$98 million to fully fund PeachCare for Kids and $30 million in
bonds for reservoirs.
The budget reflects a $90 million reduction in state funding for
local schools, bringing the six-year total cuts under the Perdue
administration to $1.5 billion. These cuts hurt both our students
and local property owners, who are forced to shoulder more of the
tax burden. But at least the legislature was able to restore $50
million of the $140 million the governor had proposed to cut this
year.
Other legislation approved by the House during the final week of
the session includes SR 996, relating to Tax Allocation Districts.
This bill calls for a statewide referendum in November to allow
cities and counties to tap school property taxes on the redevelopment
site to help pay for redevelopment. In House District 99, we are
talking about the OFS site at the intersection of Jimmy Carter Blvd.
and I-85. The Gwinnett Village CID (Community Improvement District)
is presently working to revitalize and upgrade this area into an
Atlantic Station-type development.
Who are those voters and where are those leaders?
By
Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher
APRIL 11, 2008 -- The cities of Gwinnett are changing, as is Gwinnett
constantly, of course. In the last
issue, we had a table showing how minorities were, by and large,
not registering to vote in great numbers in Gwinnett.
Brack |
There are other interesting aspects to view in this table. For
instance, let's look at the voting strength of the various cities.
Though Lawrenceville by unofficial records remains the largest
city in Gwinnett by about 3,000 people, Duluth now has the largest
number of voters, nearly 11,000. That includes 1,837 black voters,
and the area's largest concentration of Asian-Pacific Islanders,
some 796 people. Many of them are Korean, as people from that nation
have clustered in this community.
The second largest number of voters is in Snellville, with 9,933
voters, while Lawrenceville is third with 9,666 voters. Lawrenceville
has the largest concentration of black voters, 25 percent.
And while we have large cities, note that there are
16 voters in still-incorporated Rest Haven. Talk about personal
democracy: if you decided to seek office, you would probably know
every voter, and not use TV to reach that audience!
One aspect of the table that stood out was the category "other."
That amounted to 7.4 percent of the registered voters in Gwinnett.
Did it bug you, too, that we did not know who was included in this
category?
We asked Lynn Ledford, the county voting chief, about it. "Mostly
people check other, but write to the side 'mixed race' Some people
don't seem to want to say, but will check unknown or other."
At least that sheds some light on that issue. But it doesn't explain
why "other" vote so much more stronger than other minorities.
* * * * *
This from the Writer's Almanac by Garrison Keillor: "It was
(on April 9, 1865) that General Robert E. Lee surrendered the Army
of Northern Virginia to Ulysses S. Grant, effectively ending the
American Civil War. On April 5th, Grant sent a message to Lee that
said, 'General: The result of the last week must convince you of
the hopelessness of further resistance on the part of the Army of
Northern Virginia in this struggle.'
"Lee wrote back to say, 'Though not entirely of the opinion
you express of the hopelessness of further resistance … I reciprocate
your desire to avoid useless effusion of blood, and therefore, before
considering your proposition, ask the terms you will offer, on condition
of its surrender.'
"And so they met at the Appomattox Court House on April 9th,
Palm Sunday, just after noon. Afterward, Lee rode back to his camp,
and crowds of Confederate soldiers along the road began to weep
as he passed."
* * * * *
This begs us to ask: Why can't today's leaders be as civil as these
two opposing gentlemen were?
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"Can
anyone fly this thing?"
Another great cartoon from Bill McLemore:
Here's
background on Corners to Crossing race on April 19
Editor, the Forum:
A Peachtree Corners resident since 1989, I often felt a disconnect
between our residential area and Historic Downtown Norcross. Some
folks I talk with in Peachtree Corners don't even know how to get
to downtown Norcross.
In 2006 our company purchased a building near the downtown area
and I felt it was a good time to get involved with what is now becoming
the revitalization of the City of Norcross. There are so many positive
things going on in this area: The Lillian Webb ball field that will
soon be transformed into a unique City Park; the Gwinnett Village
CID encompasses the City and the Buford Highway corridor project
area that borders the downtown area. I dare say Norcross may be
a hidden gem no longer! And now loft apartments are getting started
in the downtown area.
In the spring of 2006, I began by attending the PDC (Progressive
Development Committee) meetings that occur every Wednesday morning
at the Northern Star Coffeehouse on South Peachtree Street. These
meetings are open to all who are interested in what is happening
in the city of Norcross. That summer I invited then president of
the UPCCA (United Peachtree Corners Civic Association), Pat Bruschini,
to talk with the PDC about building a conversational bridge between
the two areas.
She and Lynette Howard (then vice president) attended the PDC meeting
and it was there that Pat suggested that we create a 5 or 10-K run
"between" Peachtree Corners and downtown Norcross. The
idea grew into what is now the Corners to Crossing 10-K and Musicfest.
(www.cornerstocrossing.com.) Peachtree TV and the City of Norcross
are the title sponsors of this event, that will be held on Saturday
April 19.
What started out as a traditional 10-K has grown into an all day
event that will begin at the YMCA in Peachtree Corners and end up
in Thrasher Park in downtown Norcross. After the run and awards
ceremony, a Musicfest (local Middle and High School bands) will
fill the late morning and early afternoon hours. Food, clowns and
kids' events will be plentiful.
In the evening there will be a street dance on South Peachtree
Street downtown headed up by Banks and Shane. There are four charities
that will benefit from the proceeds: the YMCA, Summerour Middle
School, Norcross Cooperative Ministries and the Georgia chapter
of the Autism Society. We hope you will come and be part of this
very unique and inaugural event.
-- Chuck Paul, Norcross
Checking with employer
to see if waylaying can be fixed
Editor, the Forum:
As an AT&T (formerly Cingular-Bellsouth.net is now also part
of AT&T) employee it pains me to know our company is restricting
access to the GwinnettForum as an email delivery. (Charles Summerour
- Feedback, Friday April 4, 2008). The Forum is for me the same
as Mr. Summerour---a place that truly practices the free speech
it believes in.
When I return to work next week I will mention it to the proper
department, once found. My Internet Access Provider is also BellSouth,
now the new AT&T.
I always get the new postings on the Forum and have time to read
them over a day or two since it is my home page.
Mr. Summerour, I love your posts too, even when I disagree!! Please
keep 'em coming. Keep up the great work in the Forum. It is truly
a pioneer in journalism and communications!!
-- Roger Hagen, Lilburn
Regional
transit vision to be presented in Norcross April 16
The second presentation of a regional
transit vision will be held on Wednesday, April 16, at 6 p.m.
at the Global Mall on Jimmy Carter Boulevard in Norcross. The first
presentation was last week in Lawrenceville. The meeting begins
at 6 p.m.
The event comes from the Transit Planning Board and asks public
input from members of the community at this meeting. Gwinnett Department
of Transportation and the Gwinnett Village Community Improvement
District are sponsoring the meeting, with a theme, "Working
Together --- Connecting Our Region." The goal is " to
provide a basis for a future regional transit system that will connect
the region, provide travel choice, and offer auto competitive travel
time and travel time certainty to the region's commuters and visitors."
Gwinnett Sierra Club
to host Riverkeeper founder on April 17
The Greater Gwinnett Group of the Sierra Club hosts Sally Bethea,
founding director of the Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper, at a meeting
on Thursday, April 17. The meeting is open to the public and will
begin with refreshments at 7 p.m. and the main presentation at 7:30.
The Sierra Club's Greater Gwinnett Group meets at the Willowrun
Condominiums clubhouse located off of Club Drive at 1015 Country
Court, Lawrenceville. For more information or directions to the
event, call Tom Morrissey at (404) 513-4069.
Snellville plans beautification,
Arbor Day celebrations
The City of Snellville is planning its fifth annual "Park
Beautification Day" at T.W. Briscoe Park on Saturday, April
19 beginning at 8:30 a.m. The day will begin with a complimentary
breakfast in the Betty B. McMichael Room for all volunteers.
Project assignments will be given out to participants and projects
will begin at 9 a.m. At noon, lunch will be served at the annual
Arbor Day Celebration. Educational materials and donated items will
be on hand as well as information on a project area for the kids.
The Snellville Recycling Center will also be offering tours of
the facility during the day. City officials are seeking to get an
accurate participant count by Friday, April 11. Residents are asked
to stop by the Briscoe Park office or visit our website at www.snellville.org
for a registration form. Those needing more information, should
call l the T. W. Briscoe Park office at (770) 985-3535.
Detention pond maintenance
subject of April 16 workshop
Gwinnett residents can learn about the maintenance of detention
ponds at a free workshop hosted by the Gwinnett County Department
of Water Resources Stormwater Management Division and the Gwinnett
Cooperative Extension Service on April 16. The workshop starts at
7 p.m. and will be held in the auditorium at the Gwinnett County
Justice and Administration Center, 75 Langley Drive in Lawrenceville.
Sign up by calling (678) 376-7126 or visiting dwrswreg@gwinnettcounty.com.
Registration is required and space is limited.
Detention ponds are structures that provide both retention and
treatment of stormwater runoff, controlling both the quantity and
quality of the stormwater. Runoff is first captured and retained
during storms, and then the pond's natural physical, biological
and chemical processes work to remove pollutants.
Workshop presenter Robert Brannen, Gwinnett's Cooperative Extension
Service director, explains: "Like a lawn, a community detention
pond is a living thing that flourishes and best serves its purpose
when kept healthy. Neighborhood detention ponds serve an important
role for Gwinnett County's storm sewer system, which includes protecting
the water quality in our lakes and streams. This workshop will cover
simple methods on how to make detention ponds safe, effective, and
attractive additions to our communities."
Brannen will be assisted by Eric Swett, an engineer with the stormwater
division who spends much of his time inspecting detention ponds
around Gwinnett.
- 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
Tom Watson's
endorsement of Hoke Smith changes state
After 1900 the Democratic Party of Georgia turned away from the
radicalism of the Populist Party. As the now-dominant political
organization in the state, the Democratic Party reflected the interests
of an expanding urban middle class, a growing number of professionals
in the state's cities, wealthy farmers, and banking, commercial,
and industrial interests.
Progressive urban reformers in cities like Atlanta and Augusta
turned to the principles of business efficiency as a good guide
for government. They improved sewer lines and streets, added parks,
and undertook city beautification projects. The goal was to create
more livable cities, though not for all. There was little discussion,
at first, of working conditions, hours, or wages for mill, factory,
and lumber workers or for domestic servants and the poor.
Smith |
The most important influence on the course of Progressivism
was the decision by former Populist leader, Tom Watson, to endorse
the candidacy of Hoke Smith for governor in 1906. The political
collaboration of the "agrarian rebel" and a wealthy Democratic
lawyer from the state's largest city was not an obvious one. It
was popular, however, as Watson's endorsement still carried much
weight with the state's farmers, while Smith had come out strongly
in favor of railroad regulation and improved public schools. Most
telling was the fact that both Watson and Smith shared the goal
of pushing blacks entirely out of the state's political system.
They saw this step as necessary to promoting public peace and security,
eliminating electoral corruption, and allowing the state to move
forward in addressing its "real problems."
Smith defeated Clark Howell, the editor of the Atlanta Constitution,
in a contentious primary, in which racially heated rhetoric contributed
in part to the Atlanta race riot that took place in September 1906.
Smith coasted to victory in the general election, and once in office
in early 1907, moved quickly on his campaign promises. The Georgia
General Assembly allocated more education funds and gave the railroad
commission broader regulatory powers over railroads to also include
electric power companies, street railways, and gas lines. (Freight
rates were not lowered.) The disfranchisement of blacks was accomplished
with the 1908 amendment of the Georgia constitution that required
citizens to pass a literacy test before voting. The law's inclusion
of a "grandfather clause" as well as a property requirement
guaranteed that most whites but few blacks would qualify for the
vote.
Farm and labor interests continued to call for penal reform, and
in 1908 the General Assembly, with Smith's strong backing, finally
enacted a law prohibiting the convict lease system. A state farm
was established and county detention camps provided for felons (about
90 percent of whom were black), but otherwise not much else changed.
In the absence of prison facilities, shackles, chains, abusive treatment
(of men, women, and children), and labor on roads and highways were
the prisoner's lot.
(To be continued.)
Another version of
that anger management scenario
"I don't know about you, but nothing makes me want to hurl
a chair through the window and punch someone's lights out like being
told I need anger management lessons."
-- Right-wing New York Sun Columnist Mark Steyn, via Marshall
Miller, Lilburn.
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