Comments on: Tornado Siren Vandalism at Winnona Park Elementary

By: DECATURKJ

DECATURKJ — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 20:44:52 +0000

The AJC is reporting that “Dekalb County” investigators are stunned by this act. Ha! Can someone buy them a map?

By: "Naaman" Gibbets

"Naaman" Gibbets — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 02:43:31 +0000

Here here: the Swiss debacle over the three minarets in the entire country can be contributed to the processes of a direct democracy.

By: nelliebelle1197

nelliebelle1197 — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 01:58:41 +0000

Good grief. We are not a pure democracy ANYWHERE in this country, much less Decatur. Our governmental structure is is a representative democracy based on supposedly informed electorate voting people they hope represent their interests. Since one man or woman cannot possibly represent every single viewpoint in the universe, compromise for the good of the collective must be made.

Decisions cannot be made in any governmental structure based solely on community input or the opinion of a single special interest . Look at the corruption rampant corporate and special interest lobbying has had on our state and federal processes. Community input/committees/public comment periods, etc. exist for two purposes: to evaluate the needs of the community from the point of view of supposed representative members of the community to help the government make informed decisions, and to give community a feeling that it is participating in the process. A government is not required to implement suggestions of committee or special interest, but it often considers said opinions during decision making.

In other words, let public safety, CSD, ZBA, the city council, etc. do the jobs they are hired/elected to do. Participate in the process but quit whining when special interest fails to make the plan. If the government isn’t making the best decisions for the whole community, vote ‘em out. Engage, but don’t take every decision personally.

By: Emily Kandetzki

Emily Kandetzki — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 00:40:35 +0000

renfroe momma said: “But it’s even more frustrating when the city allows input, committees form, citizens work hours on it to make decisions, and then at the last minute an employee makes a random decision and that’s that.”

Wow, that sounds like the City Schools of Decatur!

By: renfroe momma

renfroe momma — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 23:19:46 +0000

Carl said: “If the City would give proper notice about potentially major decisions and allow input before the wheels start fully turning, it would be a different story entirely…”

But it’s even more frustrating when the city allows input, committees form, citizens work hours on it to make decisions, and then at the last minute an employee makes a random decision and that’s that. Ever ask a committee member why the pool at McKoy is as big as a thimble?

By: Karass

Karass — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 21:03:54 +0000

Ditto for CSD (which may be improving in the communication dept. thanks to the last election). Just a little extra effort would prevent tons of ill will.

By: Allison

Allison — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 19:02:35 +0000

Sheesh. I’m a letter-writer, not a vandalizer.

By: Scott

Scott — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 14:19:28 +0000

Unless Mother Nature throws us a tornado on the first Wednesday of the month at exactly 5pm, I’m pretty sure people could tell the difference. Or are you saying that residents should be absolved of any responsibility whatsoever for their own safety, not be expected to pay attention to even the most rudimentary elements of how our warning system works, and basically be spoon-fed everything to their exact personal specifications?

That’s not what you’re saying, is it?