Free-For-All Friday 10/21/16

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

63 thoughts on “Free-For-All Friday 10/21/16”


  2. OK I am still on Q5 – Why is it not capped at some reasonable home value?

    All of my age 65+ neighbors with $600 to $1.1 million home valuations have yes on 5 signs, well of course! They stand to benefit the most. We will be writing them checks for $6000 to $11,000 each, based on the math I read of about $1000 of benefit per $100K home valuation.

    And the truly needy homeowners with maybe 200k-300k home valuations only get a fraction of the benefit above. This does not make sense to me. I could support if it were capped somewhere that makes sense.

    1. That makes sense. My parents are affluent and live in an expensive house, and they live in a county that doesn’t tax owners over age 65. It doesn’t makes sense to them – though they happily don’t pay the taxes – and it doesn’t make sense to me. Why not start phasing out the exemption at the median home value? Exempt the first 250k completely, then 50% of the next 100k, and so forth? I’m pretty sure it’s not people in million dollar homes we’re trying to protect.

    2. There are three goals of the senior homestead exemption. One is to help seniors age in place. The second is to help Decatur retain its diversity, which is not just a matter of race, but also of age. The third, and equally important to the first, is to curb school overcrowding. As all the parents of school age children here in Decatur know, the schools are at capacity and can’t handle the continuing influx of students that has occurred over the last 5-6 years. The school system has concluded that they (and therefore Decatur taxpayers) are better off waiving seniors’ contribution to the budget than paying to educate the children of those who will replace them if they move. At a cost of over $7000 per child, the system loses every time a senior moves out and a new family moves in. In evaluating the proposal, therefore, it is important to consider both sides of the equation—the reduction in revenue and the reduction in costs. There is no guarantee this exemption will pay for itself, but it very well might, and even if it does not the school system has concluded the cost will be modest. It is unclear if this would still work if the exemption were capped as has been suggested. In fact, it is possible that a cap would make the proposal more expensive overall by making it less effective as an inducement to keep seniors of all ages from selling their home.

      Last night at Decatur’s Lifelong Community Advisory Board forum on this issue, school board chair Annie Caiola spoke to this and explained these uncertainties are one reason for the 5-year sunset. The system will be evaluating the impact of the exemption over the next five years to make any adjustments that are needed. The take away for now, however, is that the school system has evaluated this and believes the net impact (considering both reductions in revenue and cost savings) will be modest and will not have a significant impact on the overall budget or taxes paid by those under 65.

      For more information please visit:
      http://www.csdecatur.net/insidecsd/boe/exemptions_veryfinal.pdf
      http://www.csdecatur.net/insidecsd/boe/exemptions_factors_final.pdf
      http://www.csdecatur.net/insidecsd/boe/Senior%20Exemption%20Impact%20Estimation.pdf

      1. Oops forgot to link to our website.

        Please visit 5forDecatur.com for additional information on all 5 Homestead Exemptions

      2. So the School Board is willing to accept the reduction in revenue- is that because they actually will be reducing the school budget in a like amount, or because any revenue reduction from the 65+ exemption will be paid for by those under 65 so it is not really any $ loss to the school board? If the school board can commit to trying the former, I’d be more inclined to vote for this measure.

        1. macarolina – Rising property values in Decatur is the reason the school board was able to lower the millage rate in 2015 from 20.5 mils to 18.66 mils. The expectation is that the loss in revenue will be supplemented by the existing residential and commercial tax digest naturally rising due to increasing property values. The prevailing view is the school budget will be able to make up the difference without having to raise the millage rate because of this. The additional income for the schools from the completed Callaway and Avondale Station projects, as well as the new Hampton Inn will also help make up for any loss create by the tax relief.

          1. Understood- but you are talking about the tax RATE holding steady due to other CSD revenue positive factors. However, I am concerned about tax DOLLARS to be paid. If apprised values go up as likely the trend, then so do the tax dollars we owe. If there isn’t any budget decrease efforts made by CSD, the great tax positive tax revenue happenings like Calloway and hotel definitely won’t result in a potential millage decrease like they may have without the exemption.

    3. I’ve read all the materials from each link above, as well as the Yeson5 website, and can’t find any numbers in current school enrollment. Did DM, CSD or Decaturish do a post about this school year’s enrollment vs projections, and show the enrollment numbers for each grade? (DM, where is your search button now?) Growing enrollment numbers are pitched as a reason to vote for the 65+ exemption- why aren’t those numbers being provided in the CSD materials?

      1. City of Decatur school enrollment projection information can be found here.

        http://www.csdecatur.net/insidecsd/master-plan/Home%20Page

        1. Thanks, this is helpful, though the info seems to be from early 2015. I think I recall last school year’s actual enrollment to be very close to projections (kudos CSD)- I would like to see actual vs projected enrollment for this school year as well. Did the projections hold, or have we already started scaring parents away from CSD with all the over-crowding talk (I know of one young CoD family where that is the case)?

    4. OK I have read all I can and I am not convinced. No on 5 for me.

      Bottom line I believe it is “writing checks” as we will be Paying over 65 folks as a bribe NOT to move.

      Regardless of 1. their income, regardless of their 2. home’s value, and regardless of 3. whether they were planning on moving anyway.

  4. YOGURT TAP IS CLOSING. DEVASTATION:

    http://www.decaturish.com/2016/10/decaturs-yogurt-tap-is-closing/

    *weeps softly on to keyboard*

  6. There seem to be more and more kids riding bikes in Decatur without helmets. I find this surprising for a number of reasons: (lots of bike commuting parents, lots of CDC employees who think about public health concerns on a daily basis, there is a helmet law for minors in Georgia, several catastrophic accidents, etc.) So I am wondering if:

    1) It’s not really an issue that parents talk to their kids about
    2) It’s not worth having a fight over so parents give up
    3) Kids say they will wear a helmet but then do not
    4) Some other reason
    5) I should stop thinking about since it’s “not my kid and not my problem”

    1. FWIW recent studies show requiring helmets can discourage some people from riding bikes who otherwise might.

      1. It’s a shame if “helmet hair” or other inconveniences of bike helmets discourage people from cycling. But you’ve only got one brain. Someone I know claims that cyclists who do not wear helmets are demonstrating natural selection.

    3. I think a lot of it is #4–I think some parents truly don’t understand the risk, and in some parents that do, they underestimate the risk (ie the consequences that might ensue from an accident) and overestimate skill. I have pondered these situations myself also, and I don’t find my pondering to be impinging on anyone’s liberties. I don’t lie awake at night worrying about my neighbor’s kids w/o helmets, but it is sad. My sister used to always say things like “I hope that family prayed before they went out” as a way to express her concern for people.

  8. Did anyone catch a story on the local news last night about a flasher in Oakhurst? Flipping through channels and didn’t hear the details.

    1. http://www.11alive.com/news/local/decatur/lucky-i-wasnt-pruning-gardener-confronts-flasher/339459039

    2. Decaturish covered it:

      http://www.decaturish.com/2016/10/decatur-police-responded-to-two-incidents-involving-flashers-in-recent-days/

        1. I am glad 11 Alive went out and reported its own story instead of citing “a local paper” or a “local blog.” Fox 5 went that route, but after I pointed out that I always cite the work of other organizations (including Fox 5) when I’m not doing the actual reporting myself, they added the link to my original article to their story. I know Nick and Decatur Metro have dealt with this before. Other news organizations look down their noses at us because we’re small, but they are quick to generate leads from our stories and/or cite them without really citing them. To everyone else, I’m sure that sounds like whining, but without local news websites these TV stations would struggle to cover small communities the way Decaturish and Decatur Metro do. We always credit other organizations when we don’t do the work, but we are seldom afforded the same courtesy.

  10. Time is running out to support a local Cox Conservation hero nominee – your vote can help garner additional funds to maintain a local gem of a greenspace at The Clyde Shepherd Nature Preserve:

    http://www.coxconservesheroes.com/atlanta/finalists.aspx

  12. Having a lot of issues loading DM lately. It seems to be getting frozen while downloading certain ads. The actual content is not a problem — it’s just that I can’t access it. (Obviously does not happen 100% of the time.)

  14. A child was struck by a car shortly after school yesterday in a crosswalk near 2 schools, Renfroe and DHS. The child was taken to the hospital. The driver was cited for failure to yield. What is this? Just a traffic ticket? Shouldn’t the penalty be more severe? I am also curious at what time that area is no longer a school zone and the crossing guards leave. I hope that the streetscape will make this crossing safer. (College/McDonough)

    1. Gosh, I hope the child is ok. College and McDonough is a VERY dangerous intersection. I myself almost ran over a child 3 Fridays ago who was crossing McDonough on a red light. I was “speeding” (inevitable when you’re fighting to make that light) and visibility is poor when you’re in the left lane.

      I think the crossing guards leave around 4:15. It would be nice to have their hours posted so we can notify police if a crossing guard isn’t there.

    2. Awful for all involved. Decaturish says that it is a second incident in the same area of East College Avenue.

    1. It was announced somewhere several weeks ago that it was closing. Service was pretty poor the last time I was there, about two months ago, probably because everyone knew they were on their way out.

    2. fomr the AJC; The Decatur space, located at 2140 N. Decatur Rd., will be replaced by a Korean street food restaurant,

    3. I gave 7 Hens several shots and was never crazy about their product. I liked the concept, but the execution was lacking. Really heavy hand with the salt was my biggest complaint, and that never really improved.

      Looking forward to Korean. That is a cuisine that is underserved in Decatur (but abundant up in Gwinnett/Suwannee).

  18. Who do I contact about a new LED streetlight aimed at our house rather than the street? It’s like the automobile headlight from God aimed at my front windows and porch.

    4. There is a lengthy thread on Nextdoor. This is from the City;
      LED Streetlight Project
      Peggy Merriss from Decatur · 13 Oct
      The City of Decatur 2010 Strategic Plan calls for the City to be good stewards of environmental resources and one of the tasks in the plan is expanding the use of more sustainable lighting options on streets and within city parks and public areas. In addition, the City of Decatur Police Department has received community feedback requesting better and brighter lighting to increase safety and deter criminal behavior in our neighborhoods and business districts.

      To achieve those objectives, the City of Decatur LED lighting project is designed to provide quality lighting for city roadways and sidewalks and reduce electricity consumption. We have contracted with Georgia Power to upgrade approximately 1380 streetlights from high pressure sodium light fixtures to LED fixtures.

      The benefits of the LED lights include:
      • Smart LED streetlights enable Georgia Power and the city to monitor the system for non-functioning streetlights to improve system operation.
      • Reducing street light energy consumption by 40% to 60%.
      • Improving lighting quality and visibility to enhance street safety.
      • Real-time communicating of non-operating streetlights for improved response.
      • Eliminating the use of hazardous materials contained in sodium vapor lamps.
      • Preserving the night sky.
      Georgia Power has started replacing fixtures in the Winnona Park, College Heights, Lenox Place and Great Lakes neighborhoods. We anticipate that it will take approximately one month to complete installation city-wide. The new LED lights are brighter than sodium vapor lights and emit a much clearer light. It will be different and they change the lighting along the street. Once city-wide installation is complete, we will be working with Georgia Power to make adjustments and add light shields, so please bear with us as the new lights are installed.

      2. I’ve heard a lot of complaints about the new LED streetlights, but they must be in a different part of town than where I’m seeing them because IMO they look great. Specifically, I’m thinking about the stretch of West Ponce as after you pass the Decatur sign and head up the hill. Those have a good color temperature (i.e., warm, not blue), are not too bright and seem to be shaded such that there is virtually NO bleeding past the sidewalks up onto the lawns. I was actually very impressed with the precision of the aiming and the evenness of the light while still keeping the yards and house fronts of private residences dark. Road and sidewalk were brighter (but not annoyingly so) and yards were darker than with the former sodium lights. Isn’t that what we want?

      1. They closed at Homer Simpson Plaza. They’re looking for a new location but haven’t announced anything yet.

    1. Yesterday’s News Today didn’t say. I doubt it will be another fast food. I wouldn’t be surprised if the lot was not combined with the one (or more) next door to make a larger space for development.

    1. Their fried chicken was solid, but not as good as Popeye’s, which leads by a wide margin (though no location really Decatur convenient). My family loved the fried chicken livers and okra, which set them apart from other fried chicken chains.

      1. Lump, there’s a Popeye’s on Memorial Dr., next to Aldi and Zaxby’s, at the intersection with Colubia Dr. Just thought you’d want to know.

  26. PSA: I voted early. The polling place on Memorial Drive was busy, but it was well staffed and well organized. Plenty of parking. Friendly volunteers. You may wish to vote early, too.

    1. I voted Saturday afternoon, around 4 pm. I was in and out in about 5 minutes. The only delay was in having to fill out the early voting form.

      Highly recommended!

  28. Where nearby can one purchase a mattress, and not be subject to the hassles/annoyances uniquely associated with automobile and mattress sales people? IKEA is one option that comes to mind.

    Even buying a mattress at a department store was annoying.

    1. We bought a mattress online from Costco. Delivery was free and had we not liked it, they would have picked it up for free as well. But we loved it.

    2. Original Mattress Company. The have a store in Stone Mountain just off 78 just beyond Park Place.

    5. There’s a mattress store right here in Decatur — on College near the Avondale station.
      Sleep Cheep Mattress.

      Got a great deal

    6. All options mentioned are good, though we bought our current mattress from Room & Board and I’ve never owned a better one. It’s been 3 years, but one or the other of us still turns to the other a couple times a week and remarks, “Good God this bed is comfortable.”

  30. So Coyote’s is about as far from authentic Mexican as it gets, but I’ll admit to being a bit excited about them (or ANYONE, really) moving into the former Carpe Diem space under the Icehouse Lofts. Just a little bit closer to home and much better environs to get soused over a combo plate and a dish of queso fundido.

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