If you would like to submit a question or two to the Decatur City Commission candidates for this Wednesday’s live online debate (at 8pm), please submit your questions by tomorrow evening.
So far there have only been a handful of questions submitted, so don’t come crying to me later when OUR live, online debate becomes “Decatur Metro Asks the Four City Commission Candidates All His Own Questions”! (What color should I paint my house? How much longer can I force Decatur business owners to honor my “Green Decatur” bag? Do these pants make me look fat? Just kidding.)
I’m not sure if this is part of it, but if people are wary because I proposed giving both name and street name when posing a question, I officially withdraw that piece of it. Now just provide me with your full name and address so I can verify residency, and I’ll only use your first name (no more street address) when posing the question to your commission candidates.
Send your questions to decaturite[at]gmail.com
I think Fred Boykins’ question concerning the Decatur Strategic Plan, which you covered, was a good one: are we there yet, or should we stop development, keep going or revisit the Strategic Plan?
Another question covered by this blog would be a good one: some people believe Commerce Street acts as a barrier between the northside communities and the downtown core. if Commerce Street is supposed to reroute through-traffic around the city, is it fulfilling its purpose or should we rethink a way to reduce through-traffic in the city center?
Though Decatur leadership has done a good job managing its fiduciary responsibilities so far. Particularly now with this intense economic downturn, How do the candidates propose to redefine how this fine city will continue to grow and manage its finances in the face of declining property tax income and the increasing cost of compliance with State and Federal mandates. Please! I am asking about how we all will learn to live within our means. (Annexation is fraught with issues, not the least of which is its constitutionality).
How do we start asking questions like ” Does a $5000 solar powered trash compactor really move this fine city in the direction we need to go?
Amen on the annexation. They should really each have a statement that offers their opinion very directly on this issue.
Actually, Nellie, I think what HDog is trying to say is this: Forget about annexation as the solution to any budget problems. Its going to be too difficult and too many issues involved. I think the essence of the question, and correct me if I’m wrong HDog, is what are you going to do to manage our finances under current situations? Right?
Oh, no, I agree with that. I don’t necessarily support annexation without a damn good reason and certainly not as a stopgap!
So the question should be: “Do you support annexation for no damn good reason? Yes or no.” 🙂
Yes!!!
I would like the candidates to answer in very clear terms their position regarding residential annexation in general and Midway Woods specifically. I would like to know if they support expanding the Decatur boarders and what properties they would target. Clarity of vision wins points here! I would love to see a “yes, I think annexation is in Decatur’s long term best interests and this is why” or “no, annexation is not in Decatur’s long term best interests and this is why” . Take a stand folks!
I think the phrase “very clear” is the key here.
As a staunch defender of property rights, I’d be interested to hear the candidates offer their opinions/positions on historic preservation and the rights of homeowners not to be included in an historic district against their will.
So my question is this: What guarantees/assurances will the candidates give to homeowners to insure that their rights to their own properties are protected (against historic designation that they do not support and do not want.)
I know this is a hot topic in many parts of Decatur, and one that will have significant impact on my vote.
In all seriousness, *do* these pants make me look fat? 😉
I’m all for this on-line debate (and looking forward to it), but we’re typing folks! The candidates will not see the questions in advance and some of your suggested ones require thoughtful consideration and some time spent typing out the response. Using the question about annexation for example, I have listed my thoughts on annexation on my website. It took awhile to think that out and I’ve been thinking about the ramifications of annexation for years. If you asked me that during the debate, folks would be twiddling their thumbs waiting on me to type my response. I’m game for as detailed a question as y’all want to ask, but please consider the medium we’re using to try this out.
Just my two cents.
Perfectly fair point.
That’s why an answer like:
“Off the top of my head, I’d say XYZ, but I’m going to think long and hard about that over the weekend. Look for something more detailed on my website by noon on Monday” is not anything to be ashamed of…. as long as there is a deadline for an answer.
Did you really type that answer and then direct us to an unlinked site while still not answering a single question? Consider the medium indeed.
How is a reply to an online question any different to an in-person debate? I would assume that in either case you would state your position honestly with whatever evidence or research you’ve done prior to the actual debate. And if you don’t have a position or are not well enough informed on a issue, then say so. Mr. Boykin, you’ve been in Decatur politics long enough to know the issues and have opinions on them. I would hope that all candidates would practice transparency and honest in any debate forum.
Or maybe I’m just being naive.
I have an idea about annexation-how about Decatur worry about its own territory, empty storefronts, and that huge chunk of Devry land and stop trying to drag your unwilling neighbors into the city? I have no desire to add your high taxes to my already ridiculous DeKalb ones.
Yep, Tyler you are correct.
How does Decatur plan to manage itself with the very real possibility of declining tax revenue.
How do we tighten our belts? Stealing the other peoples property (in the form of property tax) to support our governments tax addiction is worse than short sighted. Fees, permits, parking meters etc are short sighted taxes that discourage business start ups and growth of anything other than government
Here goes my rant!
1. Index the size of our government to the population. (Local, State and Federal)
2. You want to pass a new law? Ya gotta remove an old one. We have to end the endless stream of laws and mandates stacking up. The volumes of well intended and yet absurd laws constantly flowing from the hallowed halls of our leaders are at best unenforceable and at worst selectively enforced.
3. Return the idea of public safety to exactly that. Brandishing “public safety” as a weapon is silly and offensive. (ie, if you do not let us add this tax we will have to cut police, fire & rescue). Relieve our Police and Public Safety Officers from the obligation of enforcing public safety laws as revenue generators. Let them refocus on real public safety.
3. Government is not the point! The intent of government is to provide leadership and limited public safety services. Perhaps it could be said the mission of our government should be to provide a safe haven for life, liberty and pursuit of happiness. (Said differently GET OUT OF MY WAY)
.
4. Property Taxes – property values as determined by the county appraisers should be set at a rate that the county is willing to buy that particular property for.
5. 70 % of the business in America is small business. The ongoing load of laws, permits, fees, inspection and compliance paperwork do nothing but act as a damper on new business start ups. Corporate America? …. blah blah blah. Most businesses in America are those very people we read about in Decatur Metro on a daily basis and hopefully support with our dollars and business. Small, local and committed to their product or service. Indeed, not the enemy but, in fact, the engine that drives our economy.
6. Simplicity can be effective. Example: Parking meters ….. cell phone parking meters? – Wow! High tech. What do they cost to purchase and maintain? What is the expected life of said parking meter? What is the net revenue? Hmmm, or could you sell me a sticker ( with a registration number) for say $100-$300 per year that gives me two hours of parking in Decatur. Chalk my tire, you already have your meter enforcers (oop! I almost said meter maids, I am glad I missed that political incorrectness) and ticket me if I am there for more than 2 hours. Simple, low maintenance and easy to monitor. Really, ya think I am gonna make a cell phone call to pay $.50 for a meter, plus a 25 cent service charge? Lemme tell you how much the aforementioned hardworking business owners love to make change so a customer can feed the meter before they can do business.
Solar trash compactor, ya wanna get fancy? consider http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbEKAwCoCKw
7. City Hall, Municipal complexes, county buildings that look like corporate headquarters? What is that? marble/granite floors brass, wood panelling etc where does the money come from to build those? ……. oh yeah, you and me
OK, I am taking a breath now
Actually, those cell phone parking meters are one of the few new technologies I’ve figured out on my own with no help. Much easier than my cell phone menu, my kids’ Ipods, and Playstation 2, and figuring out what the back of credit card statements say. I vaguely remember having to dial an 800 number the first time and now it just sort of happens like magic.
You’re singing my tune, HDog. I couldn’t agree more. Keep up the good rants.
If only my pursuit of happiness never got in the way of your pursuit of happiness and anyone could ever accurately describe and implement “liberty”, you might be onto something.
But I agree with you on “life”. Bashing each other with clubs for your own personal gain is SO 500,000 years ago.
I like the solar trash compactors. . . .and am generally quite happy with City decisions.
Good morning Altmod,
Its not that I do not like the solar compactors, they are fine. And, I am with you, our city leadership has been generally good.
The original point of my rant was, what are the new candidates looking at to
make sure we continue to live within our means>
Re the compactors, is that the best use of your and my (our) money.
What did it cost to buy? What does it cost to maintain and repair. Compare that
to trash can, trash bag system and then decide is it best use of our funds.
I am a strong advocate of solar power, AND, it is good to remember that
some of the most toxic chemicals know to man (and women) are used in the
production of those “green” solar panels.
I’m with you HDog –
Every $5k spent on solar trash compactors, is
A) $5k NOT spent somewhere else that might be more critical (schools, public safety, etc)
B) $5k that could have been left in the pockets of Decatur citizens
C)$5k not invested in local economic growth
To be clear, I don’t at all begrudge the city for making innovative small investments/purchases like this occasionally. But I do think it’s very important to remember that we can’t have everything we want. We have to make choices.
Like we all do at home, the commission should ask themselves, with *every single expenditure*, “Is this the best thing we can do with our taxpayers’ money?”
This is a weird thread that seems to keep saying “I’m not SAYIN, I’m just SAYIN!”
Interesting how when we’re going through the city budget no one says a thing about budgeting, but a couple solar-powered trash compactors get people questioning the city’s entire process.
The city has a large reserve fund to mitigate economic turmoil and is pretty hardcore about it’s budget. If your problem is too much government spending, just make that your question. “Do you believe Decatur taxes are too high for all residents?”
Just to play devil’s advocate since I hate to see Mr. Trash Compactor get dogpiled upon.
The only way to determine is something is the “best” thing we can do with taxpayer money is to determine the priorities it should be measured against. Pure cost is not the only one. I’m not claiming any particular expertise in this matter but, off the top of my head, I can think of issues like:
> The previous trash cans there were often overflowing, which presents an, albeit small, barrier to downtown patronage. People don’t like trashy sidewalks, especially when our retailers are often competing against professionally manicured malls for business. In lieu of a compactor, we could do more frequent trash pick-ups, but that comes with a labor cost. Perhaps the receptacle pays for itself over time?
> The solar compactors do double duty as PR devices, building Decatur’s reputation as an innovative, environmentally minded town. Whether you agree with this identity or not is immaterial. There’s no denying that it is a significant part of what draws people here, meaning it contributes to property values and retail survival.
There’s probably more but that’s enough to give our Solar friend a fighting chance in this brutal character assassination!
“First they came for the solar trash cans, and I did not speak out – because I was not a trash can”
A bit more evidence to Scott’s point about the solar trash compactors doing “double-duty” as a PR service. InDecatur reminds me that the GA chapter of the Sierra Club just moved here for the express reason that we have a “green” image. How much is that worth?
Sorry, that’s not my point at all. My apologies to solar compactors the world ’round. I don’t wish to be accused of solar compactorism, or ‘traditional can bias.’
I used it only as a metaphor for “nice to have” spending, in comparison to “have to have” or “don’t really need” spending. Of course, I certainly agree with Scott that there is more than one way to weigh cost/benefit analysis.
Maybe my point is better summarized as such:
If you ask people “would you like a new Gizmo?” they will say “yes, of course!”
If you ask, “would you like us to fire the math teacher so you can have a new Gizmo?” the answer will usually and rightfully be “no.”
(I won’t even ask this question “Would you like a new Gizmo, or $10 of your tax money back in your pocket?” I could go on for hours. 😉
It’s simply my hope that (if we don’t already) we evaluate all city purchases in this context.
Again, on the whole, I think the city does a responsible job with small, low impact purchases like this.