Free-For-All Friday 10/7/16

Feel free to use this post to make comments and ask questions about local issues not yet discussed here over the past week.

52 thoughts on “Free-For-All Friday 10/7/16”


  2. The third restaurant for the 2nd & Hosea development just south of Oakhurst has been announced, and will be headed up by the folks behind One Eared Stag. Quite a few new dining options coming online in the area, with Scout and Poor Hendrix getting ready to open soon and this following sometime in early ’17.

    http://atlantarestaurants.blog.ajc.com/2016/10/06/one-eared-stags-robert-phalen-to-open-a-restaurant-in-atlantas-east-lake-neighborhood/

  4. Electronics Recycling tomorrow, Decatur Public Works, 2635 Talley St.
    http://www.decaturga.com/city-government/city-departments/public-works/electronics-recycling-day-with-styrofoam-recycling-and-paper-shredding

  6. Please support the Clyde Shepherd Nature Preserve (CSNP)!

    CSNP’s president, Chris Beck, is now a finalist in the Cox Preserves Heroes program. The finalist with the most votes gets an additional $5,000 towards his/her preferred nonprofit, and of course Chris has chosen the Clyde Shepherd Nature Preserve (which is entirely run by volunteers and receives no County support).

    The CSNP is a 28-acre little wilderness located at 2580 Pine Bluff Drive Decatur, GA 30033. It’s a well-known birding spot and was featured in “Hiking Atlanta’s Hidden Forests.”

    To learn more, watch a video and vote, please go to http://www.coxconservesheroes.com/atlanta/finalists.aspx

    Voting ends October 26.

    1. Anywhere but Nalley BMW… they have THE worst service on the planet. Just check out the reviews on Yelp. My husband is the one with the BMW i3 — he drives to the one in Roswell for factory service. For non-electric cars, he likes the one on the corner of Piedmont and Cheshire Bridge.

    2. I have used Munich West (munichwest-dot-com) and FTX international (femmcaracre-dot-com) for over 20 years. We have had a 525i, 330Ci, 328Ci and 328i. Munich West is close to big Kroger and FTX is in Tucker.

    3. I second the “anywhere but Nalley” sentiment. If you feel the need to go to the dealer, Global seems to be better.

  10. It was a lively night of democracy in action at the Maloof building last night. Hundreds of DeKalb residents gathered to let their grievances with the DeKalb County Department of Watershed Management be heard. The problems discussed included inconsistent billing practices, faulty meters, poor customer service, and overbilling. Watershed has been slow to resolve these issues but quick to cut off water from people’s homes. There is a pretty outrageous recent story on CBS46 that you should check out.

    From my experience, if you have any issue with Watershed include your commissioner and the DeKalb CEO on your correspondence to help you address it. If Watershed says they’ll call you back, they likely won’t unless you add political pressure. Kathie Gannon (super district 6) was very responsive to help address my issue with Watershed. She also recommends that all DeKalb citizens advocate for the reestablishment of the Public Works and Infrastructure (PWI) committee to provide oversight of Watershed’s practices.

  12. Speaking of democracy, I am having a hard time justifying #5 on the proposed legislation that would affect seniors’ property taxes in City of Decatur. I am all for giving breaks to individuals who have limited income but seriously do we want our City to become a tax haven for the elderly without any limitations. They can come in and buy a $600,000 home and pay no school tax. That would seem to seriously threaten the future budgets for City Schools of Decatur.

    1. I’m likewise against #5 for the additional bases that (1) the seniors were able to take advantage of the school system from the previous generations, and (2) they will also benefit from the higher home values due to the quality of the schools when they sell their homes.

      I have not seen anything to support the assertions that the senior tax break will help the schools, and that it won’t increase the tax burden on rest of us. The analysis of keeping seniors in place to reduce the inflow of new kids, but losing that tax revenue vs. cost of new kids and same tax revenue is one thing (and if it’s been done, I haven’t seen it), but you also have to take into account that seniors leave for a variety of reasons, only one of which could be property taxes (ie warmer climates, smaller house, etc.). Where on the continuum is the property tax issue? Would it even make an appreciable dent in the motivation of seniors to leave?

      1. This is a simple math problem. It takes over 2 1/2 homes to support one home with children in school

        It is not just the seniors. If a 50,55,60 year old knows that they will eventually not pay these taxes there is an incentive to “gut it out”
        On my street I have observed 8 houses sold that had no school children, of those 6 were bought by families with children. Do the math, we now have to find15 houses to support this.
        Can you honestly say that you have not seen people leaving after their kids graduate to avoid the higher taxes? If they stay they become another home to support the system without the the cost.

        This is not sustainable. I agree that we need replacement revenues to come in and I do have some ideas to share, but we first have to maintain our balance of homes. This is a first step towards saving our school system

        Yes some seniors live in $600,000 houses. That does not mean they paid that. They could sell them and move a few miles and get twice the house if that is all they wanted. People young and old want to live in our city, we need them all.

        1. Agree Spencer…..I do not think we need to worry about an influx of seniors on fixed incomes moving into Decatur. It’s not the cheapest place to live. Those that do arrive would contribute their fare share in other ways. Those that “gut it out” deserve a break. Those that have been hear a while deserve it. What’s wrong with a little conservative growth to keep the school quality high and the standard of living high for all ages?

        2. What evidence do you have to show that it’s the higher taxes, and not one of a million other reasons, for seniors to leave? Proponents would rather give a huge tax incentive (one that current seniors didn’t pass along to their predecessors), based on an intuition? What if it’s only one in ten or five seniors that is leaving due to high taxes, then you’ve done more harm than good. A proponent of a new tax break would have conducted a survey showing the reasons that seniors are leaving before just assuming to know the answer.

    2. My personal experience the past few years is that every time an older neighbor decides to move, the house is ripped down and a large 4-5 bedroom, 2-story home takes it place. Uniformly, a family with 2-3 young children move in. Although the city gets more tax income from the larger house, I understand that it does not make up for the extra cost to the city to educate the extra children, let alone build new schools. So while it’s counterintuitive, I understand that giving seniors a tax break will actually reduce taxes on the rest of us, while also preserving the character of the city. If that’s right, I’ll vote for it, but if someone has numbers to disprove that, please fill us in.

      1. The problem, at least for me, is that no one has demonstrated a 1:1 correlation between the amount of a given senior’s school taxes and their propensity to leave Decatur. There are innumerable reasons for a senior (or, really, anyone) to leave Decatur, from health issues, to family, to wanting a newer/smaller home, to wanting to cash out on a higher than expected home value. Given that most teardowns at going for over $300,000 in many areas of town, the last is entirely understandable.

        The proponents of the referendum have represented, essentially, that the high cost of school taxes, alone, is what is driving seniors to leave Decatur, not any other reason. That is, at best, a questionable assertion. It is entirely possible we could end up in a situation where seniors are both (a) not paying school taxes AND (b)continuing to leave the city at the current rate. Estimates are that the tax relief will cost in excess of $1 million a year – at $10,000 a head per child (these numbers are lower than estimated and higher than actual, to my knowledge). To make the math revenue neutral, enough seniors (who would have otherwise moved but for the tax break and for no other reason), would need to stay solely to offset 100 new children in the schools. There simply is not any evidence that this tax break will have that magnitude of impact.

        To me, the current referendum is a blunt instrument – it encompasses (a) the 65 year old senior who can comfortably pay the school tax indefinitely and would not move regardless, (b) the 70 year old senior who is planning to move in 2 years in any event regardless of taxes, and (c) the 90 year old senior whose only material asset is their home and is living on social security. I would be fine with something targeted at (c) – for (a) and (b), it’s nothing but a giveaway funded by the under 65 citizens of Decatur.

        I plan to vote no, but encourage the City to attempt more targeted and appropriate relief in the future.

  14. I’m curious how many folks in Decatur are hosting evacuees from the Atlantic coast?

    My dad and family arrived from Beaufort, SC earlier this week.

    3. I wish I was. My family are atubbbornly riding it out in Charleston. They will probably be fine but they didn’t know that when they decided to stay.

    4. 2 seniors from Hilton Head, who over-optimisticaly hope to return Sunday. (They’re asking for a tax break while they’re here, because they don’t have children in the schools.)

  16. What’s up with the new signs hung on poles near the Howard/Atlanta intersection? Arrows, “Heavy Traffic Ahead”, “Rough Surface”. Movie signs left behind? Misguided street art project?

  18. The legislation is flawed in its current rendering, as expressed by many. However, it is likely that property taxes will rise regardless of the vote’s outcome, if property evaluations continue to increase (the amount you pay in taxes will increase proportionate to the increase in your home’s value). That’s why there can be a decrease in the millage rate but still be an overall tax increase. Employees are the city’s largest budget expenditure, and the creation of new employees requires more revenue – a little over 700, 000 (~5%) increase last year I think. There doesn’t seem much discussion of slight alterations in the rate of commercial digest taxation (to raise more revenue). Regardless, as Decatur is a coveted destination, property taxes seem destined to continue their rise, eventually possibly forcing out many who are not over 65, and lacking sufficient economic resources.

    Porchfest – can you drink anywhere in the street moving from venue to venue, or only in the lawns of the venues?

    1. I’m assuming that Decatur outlaws consumption in public spaces, which is pretty common. But . . .Oakhurst Market sells individual canned beers labeled specifically as “stroller pals”, if that’s any indication as to how aggressively it’s enforced. Don’t be a dummy and you won’t have a problem.

    2. Per our FAQ: “Porchfest is not a festival in the conventional sense and does not have a contained and managed festival area. That means there are no festival alcohol sales. The entire event takes place in individually owned yards, linked by the public streets in between, so be advised: When in public, you’re liable for your own behavior and subject to all existing ordinances regarding alcohol consumption. So be cool.”

    2. If you know a member, Druid Hills Country Club does a good job for a large group.

      For smaller groups, i’d look at Parker’s, Iberian Pig, Sun in my Belly, Wahoo! or Floataway Cafe.

    1. I made this switch 2 years ago on the advice of MANY friends who have only ever had Apple and have no intention of ever switching to Android. For me, I say Meh. iPhone is fine. I find that it’s not better than the high-end Android phones, not worse. Each has it’s good and not so good. For me, I’m super excited about the new Pixel that just came out and it may cause me to jump back to Android. I think die-hard Apple folks will give you other advice but for me, I say if you have no real cause to switch, then you’re probably fine staying with what you have.

    2. If you have kids, they use Apple devices and computers at school which ends up bleeding into home and then it seems easier to have all devices/computers in the Apple environment in terms of networking, passwords, and interoperability. And it seems like Apple products get hacked less. My home email was always getting taken over by malware when I had PCs. But I like the Windows/PC environment for work. Our work email system doesn’t sync well with work iPhones and the whole thing is a mess. And someone else is worrying about security and malware. If neither your kids nor work environment are factors, go with your gut.

          1. Really? From everything I’ve read, I thought you couldn’t. Maybe it’s just my own anti-Mac bias then.

            Also, this has nothing to with Android in the OP. Sorry about that.

    3. I switched from an iPhone to a Samsung and then back again. I thought my Samsung phone was fine, but I couldn’t sync it to my computer and my plug-in stereo/phone charger. So my advice is to consider how well it will work with your other equipment before making the switch.

    4. I am thinking from switching from iPhone to android. I am currently using an iPhone 4 and just can’t bring myself to pay $800 for a new iPhone (without a headphone jack!). My son has a google phone and he loves it.

  24. Who is the dingdong who scheduled both McDonough and Trinity being ripped up at the same time. For those of us on the “other” side of the RR tracks this creates a no- win situation trying to get to COD or any points north along either Clairemont or Church. Betcha Gringhouse is reelin after investing a bundle to have a 18 month view of pipes, clay and chain link fence. My only alternative to avoid rush hour crushes is Columbia to Commerce.. I guess that just triggered that rip up. “DOT/COD jointly working hard so we can’t”

    1. We’ve been over this! Move the donut shop north of the tracks, and you’ll get your damn roads back. Otherwise, no deal!

  26. thrilled to have Cleveland Jones and Martin Kearns performing at our home from 2-3 tomorrow for the Oakhurst Porchfest

    come on down and join us

    https://youtu.be/wFdtbeVr9ig

  28. Yesterday, 10/7/16, I gave some remarks at the dedication of the Eddie Fowlkes Bulldog at Decatur High School, Decatur GA. Aiden is a student reporter at the school. I sent Nick pics of Anne Fowlkes, DHS boosters responsible for statue, Principal Arlethia Williams and City Commissioner Tony Powers. Enjoy.

    To Aiden.
    “Good afternoon. My name is Chris Billingsley.
    More than one hundred years ago, the citizens of the City of Decatur committed themselves to establishing an independent public school system in the hope of instilling moral virtue and academic and athletic excellence in all students. Since that time, thousands of students, inspired by their teachers, principals, and coaches, have sought the greater glory in the classroom and in athletic competition. The Bulldog has been the symbol of Decatur for much of this time. It is fitting today, with the upcoming 115th homecoming celebration of Decatur High School next week, to dedicate this statue to the fighting spirit it represents and the man who helped preserve and publicize our shared history.

    Eddie Fowlkes was a legendary teacher, coach and mentor during his twenty nine year tenure at Decatur High School. He was a true “Son of Decatur”, born and raised in Winnona Park, a Decatur High School graduate, and along with his wife Anne and daughter Martha, long time residents in the historic Agnes Scott neighborhood. Maybe this helps to explains his desire to save and display the athletic history of DHS.

    His many friends can recall conversations with Eddie about his keen interest in Decatur sports history. Early in his teaching career, he started cataloging the many trophies on display in the Central Gym. He sought out old football and basketball films, uniforms, scorebooks and other items stored in long forgotten closets in the gym and football stadium. He spoke to reunion groups from the 1940s and 50s and slowly the word went out over the Bulldog “telegraph” that a teacher and coach from Decatur High wanted to preserve and display memorabilia from the glory years. And it poured in, scrapbooks from the Twenties and Thirties, trophies, letter jackets and programs from the Forties and Fifties and many many personal stories about “The Play”, “The Shot”, “The Coach” and “The Greatest Teacher”. The Decatur Sports History Project was born thanks to one man.

    But in a broader sense, this statue symbolizes more than the efforts of Eddie Fowlkes and his three good friends and fellow DHS graduates that made this dedication possible. The Bulldog represents thousands of former students that sought distinction both on and off the field. The 1949 and 1950 football teams, which won state championships in different classifications, were led by linebacker Larry Morris, who many consider Decatur High School’s greatest athlete. He excelled at Georgia Tech and enjoyed a stellar NFL career being named the Most Valuable Player in the 1963 national championship game. Jim Umbricht was an All-State pitcher in 1948, lettering also in two other sports. After being named All SEC at Georgia, he was drafted and played for several major league teams, finishing his career at Houston. During his final season in 1963, he battled malignant melanoma but continued to play, often in excruciating pain. His death stunned the sports world. Umbricht’s number 32 was the first one retired by the Houston Astros and he is often cited as one of the most courageous athletes in major league history. The 1965 Trinity High School football team, led by Jack Pitts and Clarence Scott, would not let the bitter sting of segregation keep them from winning a state championship. The team was recently honored in the auditorium where the players received state championship rings from a grateful city. George Carley, a DHS graduate and Clarence Cooper, from Trinity High, became distinguished jurists serving at the highest levels of their profession. Judge Carley retired recently as chief justice of the Georgia Supreme Court while Judge Cooper still serves as senior judge of the United States District Court. All of them were motivated to excel by the same fire that burned in the hearts of those who represented Decatur in the past.

    This Bulldog represents more than our past champions. It stands for every student athlete, coach, staff member and alumni here today. Touch it and you become part of a great tradition. Fight the good fight, be gracious in victory and humble in defeat knowing that tomorrow will bring another opportunity to excel.

    Over the next two weeks, all around Georgia, high schools and their alumni will meet to celebrate the past and look forward to the future. It makes no difference whether you’re a Pi High Golden Lion or a Fighting Tiger from Tucker High School, we are all seeking that connection to something more important than the superficial concerns of social media and the destructive influences of partisan politics. Here in the City of Decatur, that higher ground that unites us all is symbolized by this statue.

    Next week during homecoming, we will gather in this stadium and together sing the alma mater. Aiden, I hope you know the words. It begins, “In the heart of Old Decatur, with its sky of blue, stands our noble alma mater, glorious to view.” Touching the Bulldog connects you to the glory of the past. It can inspire you to achieve greatness today and in the future. It is what Eddie Fowlkes was all about. Go Decatur!”

    Chris Billingsley
    10/7/16

    1. Thank you so much, Mr. Billingsley, for this rich and enlightening history! And thank you to you and your generous friends for donating such a majestic symbol of Decatur’s history and traditions!

      What a wonderful opportunity for the community and other alums to honor the legacies of past teams by supporting current student-athletes through membership with the Decatur Bulldog Boosters! Use this convenient link to our new on line sign up form and have your all-sports season passes ready by homecoming!

      https://2016-2017-dbb-membership.cheddarup.com

      We look forward to thanking you personally at homecoming! And please join us Monday evening for this month’s DBB meeting if you are available.

  30. Where can you take dance lessons before a wedding so the family can learn how to do a father-daughter and mother-son dance?

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